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dental insurance minefield!
echat
Posts: 2 Newbie
ive just spent the morning trawling round insurance polices to see which is the best for me with no luck! wondering if anyone could give me some advice.
been with NHS for years and they have messed up my teeth. so at a private dentist yesterday, was told i need gum work, fllings and two crowns!
Im trying to get some insurance to cover this as well as the routine oppointments i'll need in the future.
whats my best option? should i be getting insurance and waiting for the claim limit to pass before having it done? also, as the dentist says i need this, will it be classed as a pre existing condition and i'll get nothing? the work is looking at coming in around £700
been with NHS for years and they have messed up my teeth. so at a private dentist yesterday, was told i need gum work, fllings and two crowns!
Im trying to get some insurance to cover this as well as the routine oppointments i'll need in the future.
whats my best option? should i be getting insurance and waiting for the claim limit to pass before having it done? also, as the dentist says i need this, will it be classed as a pre existing condition and i'll get nothing? the work is looking at coming in around £700
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Comments
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As your dentist says, insurance is there to deal with the unknown, if you know you need treatment then any sensibly written insurance wouldnt cover it (at least for any less than £700 + their normal premium)
That said, I have seen some cash plans that dont exclude pre-existing conditions. These require you to pay up front and may not cover all the costs but may assist.0 -
Pay the £700 out of your pocket.0
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ive just spent the morning trawling round insurance polices to see which is the best for me with no luck! wondering if anyone could give me some advice.
been with NHS for years and they have messed up my teeth. so at a private dentist yesterday, was told i need gum work, fllings and two crowns!
Im trying to get some insurance to cover this as well as the routine oppointments i'll need in the future.
whats my best option? should i be getting insurance and waiting for the claim limit to pass before having it done? also, as the dentist says i need this, will it be classed as a pre existing condition and i'll get nothing? the work is looking at coming in around £700
If you have these problems, you should get it sorted out by an NHS dentist, which is easier said than done. Even then you will have to pay per the NHS fee scale for such work.
If you are unhappy with the current dentist, then see if you can find another NHS dentist taking on people.
There is another choice to a totally private dentist, as there are also independent surgeries, where they charge only a small amount over and above NHS rates. They may be able to do the work and you can pay the bill over a period of time. Once you have been classed dentally fit to have Insurance, they can also set you up with a Denplan type of Insurance to cover future work needed.The comments I post are personal opinion. Always refer to official information sources before relying on internet forums. If you have a problem with any organisation, enter into their official complaints process at the earliest opportunity, as sometimes complaints have to be started within a certain time frame.0 -
There is another choice to a totally private dentist, as there are also independent surgeries, where they charge only a small amount over and above NHS rates. They may be able to do the work and you can pay the bill over a period of time. Once you have been classed dentally fit to have Insurance, they can also set you up with a Denplan type of Insurance to cover future work needed.
This is exactly the same thing, just given a slightly 'softer' word that 'private'!
It isn't really a small amount over NHS rates, as with the NHS 'Bands' there is no way an 'independent' dentist can do any number of extractions, fillings and root fillings for a single £50 charge!!
The price you pay will be a function of the time you get.
If you choose a private dentist with high charges, then you should expect lots of time to explain treatment options, you should expect to be able to get an emergency appointment very easily and you should expect all work to be done to the highest standards.
The dentist will have priced his work in order to be able to spend that time on each procedure.
As the charges get cheaper, then the dentist will have to work that little bit faster, and see slightly more patients in order to cover the running costs, that will still be quite similar to the dearer place. So the service might seem a bit more time-pressured, and getting an appointment might be a little harder due to the greater number of patients looked after.
If charges are very cheap, or NHS - then you get the situation where things have to be done too quickly, and an 'emergency' appointment can be had in 2 weeks time!
It's true that there are dental practices out there at all sorts of price points. Just pick one that suits you. (What you should avoid though is an expensive place that still feels rushed and has difficulty fitting you in if you have a problem.How to find a dentist.
1. Get recommendations from friends/family/neighbours/etc.
2. Once you have a short-list, VISIT the practices - dont just phone. Go on the pretext of getting a Practice Leaflet.
3. Assess the helpfulness of the staff and the level of the facilities.
4. Only book initial appointment when you find a place you are happy with.0 -
Toothsmith wrote: »This is exactly the same thing, just given a slightly 'softer' word that 'private'!
It isn't really a small amount over NHS rates, as with the NHS 'Bands' there is no way an 'independent' dentist can do any number of extractions, fillings and root fillings for a single £50 charge!!
The price you pay will be a function of the time you get.
If you choose a private dentist with high charges, then you should expect lots of time to explain treatment options, you should expect to be able to get an emergency appointment very easily and you should expect all work to be done to the highest standards.
The dentist will have priced his work in order to be able to spend that time on each procedure.
As the charges get cheaper, then the dentist will have to work that little bit faster, and see slightly more patients in order to cover the running costs, that will still be quite similar to the dearer place. So the service might seem a bit more time-pressured, and getting an appointment might be a little harder due to the greater number of patients looked after.
If charges are very cheap, or NHS - then you get the situation where things have to be done too quickly, and an 'emergency' appointment can be had in 2 weeks time!
It's true that there are dental practices out there at all sorts of price points. Just pick one that suits you. (What you should avoid though is an expensive place that still feels rushed and has difficulty fitting you in if you have a problem.
I replied from my experience. I had not been to a dentist for years and could not register with NHS. So I found a large independent surgery that offered NHS + 20%. It was all clearly explained, with the rates shown NHS versus their charges. So I knew how much was going to be charged and paid this over a period of time. I think from memory they allowed 3 months to settle, but I paid the bill over the different appointments I had, as the treatment could not done all in one appointment.
So there is choice out there and the OP should shop around to find the best option.The comments I post are personal opinion. Always refer to official information sources before relying on internet forums. If you have a problem with any organisation, enter into their official complaints process at the earliest opportunity, as sometimes complaints have to be started within a certain time frame.0 -
Hmm, I can't really afford £700 at the moment and the dentist said this work needs to be done ASAP.
I think I'll try to find some insurance that covers pre existing conditions and see how I get on.
I nearly did take out insurance before my oppointment today but didn't get round to it:(0 -
I replied from my experience. I had not been to a dentist for years and could not register with NHS. So I found a large independent surgery that offered NHS + 20%. It was all clearly explained, with the rates shown NHS versus their charges.
Was this pre-2006? Or are you in Scotland or N.I. where they still have fee-per-item NHS charges? It is possible to do that under a fee-per item system, but not the banded system that England and Wales now 'enjoy'!How to find a dentist.
1. Get recommendations from friends/family/neighbours/etc.
2. Once you have a short-list, VISIT the practices - dont just phone. Go on the pretext of getting a Practice Leaflet.
3. Assess the helpfulness of the staff and the level of the facilities.
4. Only book initial appointment when you find a place you are happy with.0 -
Not a recommendation, but you can get some cover (though not £700 worth) now from simplyhealth.Hmm, I can't really afford £700 at the moment and the dentist said this work needs to be done ASAP.
I think I'll try to find some insurance that covers pre existing conditions and see how I get on.
I nearly did take out insurance before my oppointment today but didn't get round to it:(
They cover you up to £190/year from the day you take out their cash plan and include existing conditions.
Get some new specs or contacts too if you wear them, and other benefits.
Their policies have no minimum term, so once you claimed the max for the year you know what to do!!0
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