Please can someone explain dental insurance to me?

princessamy86

Hi sorry if this is a really thick question but what is it? What does it cover you for? I've heard of denplan, but I'm not really sure what they are or what they do! I'm really wussy about the dentist and have lost my nhs one, not that I would go back there as she was useless. I now have a tooth which has split in half, I need root canal work and I'm frightened a)of going to the dentist, and b) how much it will cost. Does anyone know if they will even take you on when you have existing problems?
Thanks very much

Lish_2

No type of 'insurance' or healthcare plans will pay for treatment on any pre-existing conditions. They would be stupid to as everyone would join up when they have a major bit of work doing- get 50% reimbursed and then cancel the policy. I pay for one through HSA and its pretty comprehensive (I pay about £21 a month) but I couldnt claim for any pre-existing conditions at all or for any sort of major work within 6 months of joining the plan (didnt need to anyway!), if you try and claim for a pre-existing condition, they have the right to apply to the dentist for a written report explaining if it is pre-existing and ask for other records etc to prove it. It's just not worth it!
Sorry to sound harsh but it's just the way they work! Essentially they are all businesses and that is how they make profit. Hope this helps!

abby77_2

Hi Princess Sammy
I work at HSA, so I'll try and be as unbiaised as possible!

You can choose quite a few different ways to pay for your dental cover.

Lish told you about his/her dental insurance which is a more comprehensive way of paying for your dental treatment. HSA does one and so does Tesco. You'll find most of these don't cover pre-existing conditions, but it means that you can get your first check-up paid for, and any new dental issues you have after that. You also get accidents and emergencies etc.

You can also take out a health cash plan. These covers you for a smaller amount of dental cover, but also a range of other every day health benefits. You can claim straight away for most benefits including dentistry, and you don't have to have a dental assessment before you start.

You can also take out what is called a "capitation scheme" which is Denplan. This is a scheme that is run through your dentist, and you pay a certain amount according to the state of your teeth. You may be required to get dentally fit before you join.

Martin has written a couple of articles about this that you might find useful. If you search dentistry or cash plan on this site, you'll find these.

Hope this helps.
Abby

belfastgirl23

I just wanted to say thanks for asking this I've been with denplan for a long time and have found it pretty good and it has covered almost all of the work we have had done although for a hefty £42 a month between us.

But the practice has been bought over and my own dentist left. I don't really like how it's being run and was thinking of moving across except that her surgery is not a denplan surgery. I didn't like the scheme they were running - too worried about the costs I would be potentially incurring since it didn't cover treatment, just routine checkup. but other insurance never occurred to me - duh!

I too would love some advice about which of the schemes are good and would provide good cover for people who did not look after their teeth in their youth and also cover emergency treatment when away from home

londoner1998

Hello!
I have mine with WPS (Western Providential Association). I got it through work (10% discount I think) two years ago, when my wisdoms were giving me hell. I pay 11.69 per month and it covers up to 75% of any routine or emergency treatment. I knew I would potentially need further treatment (shoudl had had a wisodm out at least three years ago but didn't, was a penniless student and frightened to death)so I decided to take it. No pre-conditions covered, but could start claiming a month after taking out the policy. At the dentist's we discovered I needed the two tops out- I got the first one out straightwaway and paid fully for it (still within the first month buffer time). After that, the second wisdom, three routine check up appointments (with polish and scale) and a filling that we discovered in check up was needed were covered by my insurance, paying 75% of each of those (ie, wisdom extraction cost 120, WPS refunded me 90 quid) . I had checked other insurers and the time you needed to wait for claiming was between 3 and 6 months- having to wait only for 4 weeks was a god send for me. They send the cheque within a week of submitting you claim and I have to say this is the best I ever did. I know you pay a bit at the end of the year, but 11.68 a month is not even 50 p a day and I have to peace of mind that if I need something done, the policy eases my cashflow dramatically. All you need is your dentist's signature, stamp and date on the form and the receipt with the ' treatment plan' (ie, what you got done). The effect it had on me is that now I don't have an excuse not to keep my dentists checkup appointments. Can't recommend it enough, well worth investigating.

londoner1998

Forgot to say, my dentist does NHS and priate but some treatments available only privately. The insurance covers both.

belfastgirl23

Are the claim forms quick to fill in?

londoner1998

Yeap, my dentist just has to tick on the box that applies to the treatment I received (I bring the form to him every time), sign and stamp (with his registration number). I staple the recept to this form and a prin-out the dentist always give me (the treatment plan) and send it off. The main is that you do it as soon as possible- put it off one week and you will forget to do it! THAT'S how they make money, out of the thousands that are just too lazy/disorganised/usy to do it...

millie

My dentist charges £10 to fill the claim form in and if like me I rarely have anything done exept the checkup its hardly worth claiming and I ended up cancelling my insurance

alison999

millie wrote: »

My dentist charges £10 to fill the claim form in

omg, ive never heard of a dentist charging for that!

abby77_2

belfastgirl23 wrote: »

I just wanted to say thanks for asking this I've been with denplan for a long time and have found it pretty good and it has covered almost all of the work we have had done although for a hefty £42 a month between us.

But the practice has been bought over and my own dentist left. I don't really like how it's being run and was thinking of moving across except that her surgery is not a denplan surgery. I didn't like the scheme they were running - too worried about the costs I would be potentially incurring since it didn't cover treatment, just routine checkup. but other insurance never occurred to me - duh!

I too would love some advice about which of the schemes are good and would provide good cover for people who did not look after their teeth in their youth and also cover emergency treatment when away from home

No worries Belfast Girl - glad it was useful