While we shop around for health insurance plans available in the market, we are spoilt for choice by the features the plethora of plans offer at competitive rates.
When it comes to health insurance, most people think about coverage for medical procedures and treatments. However, many people overlook the importance of dental health and the potential costs associated with dental procedures. That's why it's important to understand which health insurance plans offer coverage for dental treatments and procedures. In this article, we will discuss the different types of health insurance plans that cover dental care and how to find the best coverage for your needs.
Dental Health Insurance
Dental health insurance is a type of insurance that specifically covers dental procedures and treatments. This type of insurance can be purchased on its own or added to a medical insurance plan. Dental health insurance can cover a variety of procedures, from routine cleanings to more complex surgeries. It's important to research and compare different dental health insurance plans to find the best coverage for your needs.Why Is Dental Health Insurance Important?
Dental health insurance is essential for maintaining good oral health and preventing serious dental issues. Regular dental check-ups and cleanings can help detect and prevent problems such as cavities, gum disease, and oral cancer. However, many people avoid going to the dentist due to the high costs associated with dental treatments. This can lead to more severe dental issues that require expensive procedures such as root canals, extractions, and dental implants. Having dental health insurance can help alleviate the financial burden of these treatments and encourage individuals to seek regular dental care, ultimately leading to better overall health.
Is Dental Surgery Covered by Medical Insurance?
The short answer is yes, dental surgery can be covered by medical insurance. However, it depends on the type of surgery and the specific insurance plan. Most medical insurance plans do not cover routine dental procedures such as cleanings and fillings, but they may cover more complex procedures like dental surgery. It's critical to confirm what is covered by your particular plan with your insurance provider.
Which Health Insurance Has the Best Dental Cover?
When it comes to finding the best dental coverage, it's important to consider your specific needs and budget. Some health insurance plans offer comprehensive dental coverage, while others may only cover a portion of dental procedures. It's important to research and compare different plans to find the best coverage for your needs. Some popular health insurance plans that offer good dental coverage include Aetna, Cigna, and Delta Dental.Mediclaim Policy Covering Dental Treatment
A mediclaim policy is a type of health insurance that covers medical expenses, including dental treatments. However, not all mediclaim policies cover dental treatments, so it's important to check with your insurance provider to see if dental coverage is included in your policy. If not, you may be able to add dental coverage to your policy for an additional cost.Root Canal Covered by Health Insurance
Root canals are a common dental procedure that can be quite expensive. Many people wonder if this procedure is covered by health insurance. The answer is, it depends on your specific insurance plan. Some plans may cover a portion of the cost, while others may not cover it at all. It's important to check with your insurance provider to see if root canals are covered under your plan.
Q). What is Dental Insurance?
Ans: Dental insurance provides coverage against medical expenses for dental issues. Usually, dental coverage is not included in a standard health insurance policy unless it is necessary after an accident. However, you can get dental coverage as an optional cover on payment of an additional premium. Some insurers cover dental treatments under an OPD cover.
Dental insurance, like any other type of health insurance, has a waiting period and an upper limit up to which treatment costs are covered. Coverage under dental insurance includes X-rays, oral check-ups, dental injury due to an accident, root canal treatment, fillings, extractions, and preventive treatments. These are just general dental insurance coverage, and every policy has different coverages per its terms and conditions.
If you have a family history of dental issues, adding dental insurance to your existing health insurance policy is a good idea. Dental procedures are expensive, and getting dental coverage helps financially and rewards you for regular dental check-ups.
Q). Why is dental insurance important?
Ans: Dental insurance is important because oral health is essential to your overall health. Your dental hygiene is connected with so many other body parts and diseases, such as diabetes, stomach ulcers, etc. Hence dental insurance is equally important as health insurance for the following reasons.
- Dental treatments are not covered in a standard health insurance policy, so adding dental insurance to your existing health plan can help you save a lot of money.
- Dental insurance can be added to a standard health insurance plan at a very nominal cost. It helps in covering the cost of expensive dental procedures, thus protecting your savings.
- Since the expenses for dental treatments are covered, people no longer delay going to a dentist and thus can maintain good dental health.
- Insurance companies have a good network of hospitals, so having dental insurance will give you access to top-notch medical facilities and expert consultation.
- You can avail of cashless treatment for dental problems at network hospitals.
Q). Does insurance cover dental treatment?
Ans: Health insurance policies do not cover dental treatments. It is available only if it is required due to an accident or under OPD cover. As a part of an accidental cover, only medically necessary dental treatments are covered. This is because dental treatments are planned and considered cosmetic procedures. However, a select few health insurance policies in India offer dental insurance as an in-built cover.
To avail of dental insurance benefits, you can opt for OPD coverage as a part of your health insurance plan. It will cover any expenses related to X-rays, extractions, fillings, teeth alignment, and root canal treatments. Before opting for dental coverage, note that dental insurance has a waiting period, so opt for a plan with a lesser waiting period. Also, check the limit on the sum insured assigned for dental procedures.
Q). How do I make an insurance claim for dental treatment?
Ans: Most insurance policies cover only certain procedures under dental care. These procedures are usually diagnostic or preventive, so before making a claim, read your policy terms and conditions and check what dental procedures are covered and what are not. Also, check the eligibility to claim dental treatment. Given below is the claim process for dental treatment.
- Notify the company about the claim or any accident immediately.
- Submit the duly filled claim form along with supporting documents.
- Once the insurance company receives the claim request with all the documents, it verifies the claim.
- After verification, you will receive the payment if the claim is approved.
- In case of a cashless claim, inform the company before starting the treatment, get a pre-authorisation, and your claim will be settled directly at the hospital upto the limit specified in the policy.
The documents you will be required to provide for your claim are the claim form, policy document, KYC documents, consultation bills, doctor’s prescription advising treatment, and hospital and pharmacy bills.
Q). What are the best dental plans offered by health insurance companies in India?
Ans: If you are looking for insurance plans that provide coverage for dental treatments, here are some of the best plans to cover dental treatments in India.
- Aditya Birla Activ health platinum enhanced platinum plan covers dental consultations and investigations with a sum insured from ₹ 15 lakhs to ₹ 2 crores.
- Bharti AXA health Advant EDGE plan covers OPD expenses for dental issues as an optional benefit up to ₹ 1 lakh or 0.5% of the sum insured.
- Care Plus health insurance plan covers OPD dental treatments with a sum insured from ₹ 5 lakhs to ₹ 25 lakhs.
- Chola MS Privilege Healthline plan covers OPD dental expenses upto ₹ 10,000 every 2 years with a sum insured from ₹ 5 lakhs to ₹ 25 lakhs.
- Tata AIG Medicare premier plan covers dental treatments with a sum insured from ₹ 5 lakhs to ₹ 50 lakhs.
For more details on dental plans, visit the Coverfox website at www.coverfox.com or call customer care at 02248971018.
Q). How to purchase a dental insurance policy online?
Ans: An insurance plan exclusively for dental treatments is not available. However, there are health insurance policies that cover dental treatments under OPD coverage or accidental coverage. To select the right plan for dental coverage, check the following.
- The policy terms and conditions, with inclusions and exclusions, select a plan with comprehensive coverage for major dental procedures.
- Waiting periods for the dental treatments and shortlist the ones with short waiting periods.
- The upper limit of the sum insured upto which the coverage is available.
- Compare the benefits offered and the amount it will cost you.
Purchasing a dental plan online
With digital insurance platforms, comparing and purchasing insurance online is very easy. Following are the basic steps involved in purchasing a dental insurance plan online.
- Visit the insurance company's website.
- Log in to your account and select the plan you want to buy.
- Select the options available under the plan and click Buy Now
- Provide your basic details in the online application form.
- Confirm the details you have filled in the application form.
- Pay the premium by an online payment mode.
- You will receive your policy details in your email.
You can also compare and purchase insurance from the Coverfox website. For more details contact our customer support.
Q). Does dental health insurance cover tooth extractions?
Ans: Yes, dental insurance covers tooth extractions of the insured up to the specified limit in the policy. Other procedures related to a tooth infection or tooth tissue biopsy are also covered under a dental plan. Some of the common procedures covered under a dental insurance plan are;
- Dental consultations and digital X-rays
- Teeth scaling and teeth whitening
- Teeth implantation and teeth bracing
- Regular dental check-ups
- Teeth filling
- Crown fitting
- Treatment for tooth nerve infection
- Repairs for denture
Q). What are the 4 main categories of dental coverage?
Ans: Dental coverage can be divided into four types of dental treatments. These treatments are;
Basic Care - Basic dental care includes treatment for basic dental issues such as toothaches or gum issues. These treatments are covered only upto a limit and include teeth fillings, extractions, toothaches, gum disease treatment, and root canals.
Preventive Care - These treatments are done to prevent damage, disease, and dysfunction. These treatments are required to maintain good dental health. Preventive treatments include X-rays, oral check-ups, cleaning, and tooth sealing.
Restorative Care - This type of dental care requires more complicated procedures and is covered upto a small percentage only. Restorative care includes services for crowns, implants, bridges, oral surgery, and denture services.
Orthodontic Care - This type of dental care includes services to fix misaligned teeth, such as tooth removal to correct overcrowding, braces or retainer to align teeth, space maintenance, and jaw repositioning using splints and trauma care. These treatments are not covered under dental insurance as most of these treatments come under cosmetic procedures.
Q). Does medical insurance cover root canals?
Ans: Health insurers mostly cover root canal treatments under OPD and accidental coverage. Some plans cover it under daycare procedures. The coverage depends on the terms and conditions of the policy. Remember that there are limits specified up to which dental treatment is covered. Check with your insurance provider about the details of the dental coverage available under your health insurance plan.
Q). Does insurance cover the entire expense of dental treatment?
Ans: Most insurance companies cover dental treatments upto a specified limit only. Commonly these limits are ₹ 5000 to ₹ 10,000 per year. Also, consider deductibles, which the insurance provider does not cover. Hence, even if you have a high upper limit, the entire cost of the treatment will not be covered under insurance.
