As a result of the exodus of dentists from the NHS into private practice there are fewer and fewer local NHS dentists prepared to take on new patients. Many NHS practices are already maxed out, putting more pressure on the dentist and their staff. Finding an inexpensive dentist ready to take on new patients is the only option for many people.
The five million plus people annually visiting the dentist with toothache do so because most people don’t bother to have dental checkups. Many of those patients have to wait to receive treatment because of the NHS dentist overstretched resources.
The answer is dental insurance.
Dental emergencies always come at the worst possible time, when your financial resources are limited. Having private dental insurance is effectively the same thing as having put money aside for just such an emergency. Dental insurance is the obvious choice to getting excellent service at a very reasonable cost that is spread over the year. Cheap dental insurance needn’t cost more than going to an NHS dentist and it certainly avoids the long wait for appointments.
Before looking for quotes for dental insurance you should find out how such plans work.
Private dental insurance plans are paid monthly or annually and may be limited to an individual or to a family. Be clear from the outset that there is no single standard plan. Each insurer will offer different numbers and types of insurance plan. You can choose a cheap policy whose pre-defined areas of coverage exactly match your requirements. Others offer policies with options to add or remove certain coverage allowing you to customize closer to your needs.
Whichever policy you go with, the basic rule of thumb is the more coverage you need, the more you pay.
A dental insurance plan that includes NHS cover will limit its liability only to NHS treatment. By spreading your costs over the year, an NHS dentist could be of great advantage to you. Upgrading this kind of plan is possible if your dentist becomes a private practitioner.
Dental insurance plans are aimed at covering preventative as well as minor and major restorative treatment. Nearly all plans preclude having treatment within 30 – 90 days after signing up to the policy. To guard against taking on someone whose dentition is already bad, other plans will insist upon an initial survey. Most plans require regular checkups at least twice per year.
Every dental plan has certain limits. It’s normal for there to be limits on a specific treatment and on that treatment during the year. There are dental plans that cover emergency treatment wherever you might be in the world.
What’s dental insurance going to cost?
The cost of a dental insurance plan can vary greatly from one insurer to another depending on the number of people insured and the options you choose to be covered for. Cheap dental insurance plans are often included in the benefits packages that many companies offer to their employees. If your employment offers this, you are advised to take advantage of it.
Unexpected or emergency treatment are covered by dental plans. In spite of the wide variation in policies, most are in accord in not providing cover for cosmetic treatment.
Get the plan that is right for you
Don’t rush into deciding what you want from a plan
Select a plan that gives you choices
Avoid plans that do not allow you to make changes as and when you might need
• Choose a plan you can afford without skimping on essential coverage.
Visit dental plan websites for several different dental insurance quotes and get the best plan for your needs.
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