Most people in the UK visit NHS dentists as NHS dental care is cheaper than private dental care, however, as dental care is not free on the NHS, it can still be cost-effective to take out a dental insurance policy. Many dental insurance policies cover both NHS and private treatment, meaning you can claim back what you pay for NHS treatment.
Why is it a good idea to have dental insurance?
Most people do not have perfect dental health and dental treatment can be very expensive, even if you visit an NHS dentist, a complex procedure costs more than a hundred pounds and some people simply do not have this kind of money available. Dental insurance policies are available from a few pounds each month and this can help to cover the cost of any treatment you require. Some policies cover private treatment and some cover both private and NHS treatment.
If you do choose to take out a private dental insurance policy, this will enable you to visit a private dentist. This can be advantageous as private dentists often have shorter waiting lists and can offer treatments that are not available on the NHS. The NHS only offers treatments that are essential, for example, cosmetic dental treatments are not offered because they are not essential for good dental health. If you do choose to have a treatment, make sure that it is covered by your policy.
How do I choose the best policy for me?
There are so many dental insurance policies out there that it can be very difficult to decide which one is best for you. To help you decide, try to read up on different policies, use comparison sites to see what each company offers for the same price and contact individual insurance providers to see if they are offering any deals or incentives for new customers. Make sure you read the small print carefully and choose a policy based on what it offers for the amount of money you want to pay, bear in mind that a cheaper policy usually offers less comprehensive cover than a more expensive policy.
Some employers offer dental insurance alongside private medical insurance. Ask your employer for details of any insurance benefits and check the details of the policy carefully before you decide to see a private dentist, if the treatment is not covered, you will have to pay full rates, which may be very expensive.