Dental Insurance - Too good to be true?

flammable999

I have had a corporate dental policy through work since earlier this year. Now this is my situation. I plan to have several thousands of pounds of work done under the policy. This is all clinically necessary work as stated by a private dentist over the weekend. In theory, my policy will cover for such treatment.

My question is this. I know most policies will not cover you for any condition pre-known but how is this defined? I mean I have only been to my own dentist twice in the last five years and both times for wisdom tooth pain so all I got was painkillers. I mean it is not like I did not know I had bad teeth before I took the policy out. Obviously I did. But then how far can these insurance companies go as to "pre-known"? Nothing has been put down about the state of my teeth till the weekend gone.

In theory all treatment required is covered but I don't know. I pay a tenner a month for the policy and getting several thousands pounds of work done under it seems too good?

stator

Is the treatment related to your wisdom teeth?

dacouch

Your bad teeth are a pre known condition to you, your lack of dental visits will also flag up to the Insurers to perform extra checks on your claim

sinizterguy

What is the work that needs to be done ?

flammable999

no none of it is related to wisom teeth. It is all crowns, root canals and fillings, all of which are specified in my policy documents

stator

I guess you'll have to get your claim preauthorised

dacouch

stator wrote: »

I guess you'll have to get your claim preauthorised

Or face a very big shock when / if the claim is refused.

flammable999

I have sent the quote for treatment to the insurance company as a sort of pre-authorisation to give myself some backing before booking anything

I hear what you're saying but have prepared myself for if it does get refused. The work needs doing, so will pay for it if thats the case albeit probably on credit card because of the amount invoved,

LeafGreen

have you checked the limits of cover for each individual type of cover? I have a policy through work too - I think the headline amount is about £1000 worth of cover (for example).... but then there are limits so it might be check-ups up to £50, fillings up to £100, crowns up to £200, etc etc per year for all the treatments that are covered.

Actually when I did the sums, it seemed that I would have to have quite a few distinct treatments for different problems for it to work out better than just saving the premiums in the first place.

I have a feeling mine does include pre-existing conditions though, so that may not be a problem. As with all insurance policies there will be exclusions so check the small print.

flammable999

grahamgoo wrote: »

have you checked the limits of cover for each individual type of cover? I have a policy through work too - I think the headline amount is about £1000 worth of cover (for example).... but then there are limits so it might be check-ups up to £50, fillings up to £100, crowns up to £200, etc etc per year for all the treatments that are covered.

Actually when I did the sums, it seemed that I would have to have quite a few distinct treatments for different problems for it to work out better than just saving the premiums in the first place.

I have a feeling mine does include pre-existing conditions though, so that may not be a problem. As with all insurance policies there will be exclusions so check the small print.

Yup already emailed and asked about limits and they said no limit, just up to NHS fees which eastern europe will be below anyway. I have read through everything and apart from the "known" grey area, I can;t find anything but insurance companies will be insurance companies!

Quentin

flammable999 wrote: »

Yup already emailed and asked about limits and they said no limit, just up to NHS fees....

NHS max charge is £219 for a course of treatment (including crowns)


A number of dental cash plans don't preclude pre existing conditions - eg Simply Health Simply Cash Plan covers you from the date you take the plan out (which can be the date you visit the dentist and have a bill!)