Does Health Insurance Cover Dental? Comparing UK Insurers.
Private Health Insurance Dental

Private Health Insurance & Dental Cover: Comparing The Insurers.

"Does health insurance cover dental?" It's a question frequently asked. The short answer is yes, it can, but it's not always included as standard. It depends on your insurer and the policy you choose regarding how much it covers and what it excludes.

With the exception of one, dental costs aren't covered as standard with health insurance providers; however, some policies do offer optional dental add-ons.

Let's compare the dental benefits offered by insurers that provide some form of dental cover, namely Aviva, AXA, Bupa, and Vitality, to help you understand what's available.

The Rise in Popularity of Dental cover in the UK

Dental plans are becoming more popular in the UK with dental treatment prices going up and NHS dental services often crowded, many are choosing private dental plans. These plans help pay for regular check-ups and more serious treatments, which can help to make the cost of dental care more affordable. Insurance companies offer these plans to meet the growing demand, providing individuals peace of and better access to essential dental services

Understanding Dental Cover with Health Insurance

Having some dental cover alongside your health insurance helps pay for costs associated with dental care, which, as we know, isn't typically covered with standard health insurance. It usually covers routine check-ups and treatments like fillings or crowns. This cover is often an extra you can add to your health insurance, which will increase your premium.

It's worth mentioning that some of the insurers mentioned in this article also offer standalone dental insurance plans, which may provide different benefits than those discussed here. In this article we are looking specifically at dental cover that is available as an add-on to an individual or family private health insurance policy.

Additionally, some of these add-ons may include benefits for optical and audiological services. If applicable, we will provide the benefit amounts below. Let's compare the insurers.

Aviva Health Dental Add-on

What's the add-on called?
Dental and Optical Add-On.

What's Covered?

Dental

  • £250 for routine dental treatment: including examinations, tooth cleaning, white fillings (where appropriate), crowns, extractions, and surgery. This benefit has a £50 excess. So, after paying the first £50, Aviva will reimburse up to £200.
  • £600 for accidental dental injury: Covers treatment for injuries causing damage to teeth and gums

Optical

  • £150 optical benefit: Towards glasses and contact lenses with a £50 excess.

What's Not Covered with Aviva Dental and Optical?

  • Aviva Health does not pay for other monthly dental plans.
  • Accidental dental injury for teeth or gums that have previously decayed, been diseased, repaired, restored, or treated (other than scaling or polishing).
  • Damage to dentures and implants is not included.

AXA Health Dental Add-on

What's the add-on called?
Dentist and Optician Cashback Option.

What's Covered?

Dental

  • 80% cashback on dentist fees, up to £400 annually, without affecting your no claims discount or being subject to excess payments.

Optical

  • 80% cashback on prescribed glasses and contact lenses, up to £200 annually, plus up to £25 a year towards eye tests. These claims do not impact your no claims discount or incur excess charges.

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Bupa Health Insurance Dental Cover

Bupa is the only provider that includes some dental cover as standard with it's health insurance policies as well as an optional add-on.

Benefit name
Bupa Dental Allowance (covered as standard)

Whats Covered?

  • Bupa covers one dental appointment per policy year at a participating Bupa Dental Care practice. This can be for a new patient exam, routine check-up, or emergency appointment.
  • £300 Annual Benefit Allowance which covers them for restorative dental treatment deemed clinically necessary after a dental appointment at a Bupa Dental Care practice.
  • The dental allowance has no excess, and it does not affect any no claims discount.

Bupa Dental Allowance does not cover

  • Cosmetic treatments, preventative hygienist appointments, prescription charges, dental injuries from contact sports, and specialist consultations are not covered. Treatment must occur at a Bupa Dental Care practice.

Whats the Bupa add-on called?
Bupa Dental Cover 20

What's Covered?

  • Preventative treatment up to £150 per person annually.
  • 75% of restorative treatment such as fillings, crowns, bridges, capped at £700 per person per year.
  • Covers £600 emergency dental treatment annually, with a limit of £200 per emergency.
  • £5000 for dental injuries resulting from external impact, per person annually.
  • Full cover for oral cancer diagnosis and treatment. Requires referral by GP or dental professional and must be carried out by a Bupa recognised practitioner.

Bupa Dental Cover 20 does not cover:

  • Cosmetic treatments, unnecessary restorative work, pre-existing conditions, implants, sealants, mouthguards, orthodontics, consumables, and prescription charges.
  • Injuries from contact sports, mouth jewellery, and self-inflicted injuries are also excluded.

Vitality Health Dental Add-on

What's the add-on called?
Optical, Dental, and Hearing Cover.

What's covered?

Dental

  • Covers 100% of costs up to £100 per plan year for routine dental and hygiene appointments.
  • Covers 80% up to limit of £400 for dental treatments such as fillings, crowns, bridgework, implants, root treatment, extractions, dentures and orthodontic treatment.
  • Covers 100% up to £2,500 per claim for emergency care. Max two claims per year.

Optical

  • Covers up to £500 per plan year at Vision Express and 80% up to max £300 with other providers, covering prescription glasses or contact lenses for new prescriptions.

Hearing

  • Covers 80% reimbursement up to max £300 per plan year of costs associated with hearing tests and prescription hearing aids.

Optical Limitations:

  • Reimbursement varies by provider, and prescription benefits are for new prescriptions only.
Dentist's Well Done Sticker

Key Takeaways

  • Not all Health insurance providers in the UK typically include comprehensive dental care as standard.
  • Dental cover is usually an optional extra, which will increase your premium.
  • The level of cover and the types of treatment included differ significantly between insurers. Carefully review each provider's policy documents before selecting one.
  • Some dental add-ons have excesses, meaning you'll pay the first portion of any claim.

Remember to carefully read the policy documents of each insurer to fully understand their terms and conditions, exclusions, and limits before purchasing.

How We Can Help?

Deciding which the right private health insurance policy is right for you can be a real toothache! But that's where Compare My Health Insurance comes in to help polish up your understanding of health insurance and ensure you're never left filling confused about your cover! 😁

Working in partnership with our network of award winning partners, we're here to help you:

  • Compare policies from a range of providers to find the best value for your money.
  • Customise your search based on your specific needs and budget.
  • Access expert reviews and customer feedback to make informed choices.
  • Stay informed with real-time updates on market changes, including insurer product adjustments and rate reviews.
  • Discover tips on saving money on health insurance, like taking advantage of discounts and special offers.
  • Receive personalised assistance from our network of FCA-regulated brokers who can guide you through the process and help you find a policy that perfectly fits your needs and budget.

At Compare My Health Insurance, we're proud to be rated excellent by our users. We're committed to ensuring you have an outstanding experience while searching for your health insurance—whether it's about covering your dental needs or any other aspect of your health!

Source: Aviva, AXA Health, Bupa, Vitality, The Guardian, BBC News

Any information we provide is for general information purposes only and should not be taken as financial advice.

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