An obvious answer from all the team at Get Dental Plans to this question is a resounding yes! But when dental treatment is technically covered on the NHS, this is a bigger question than you might imagine. So, if you can get all of your dental treatment on the NHS, why should you bother to offer dental insurance to all your staff as an employee benefit?
So, the first thing to consider is that you do have to pay for treatment on the NHS, it is just set at different prices to a private dentist, so there is still a cost involved. So, by taking out dental insurance, you are spreading the cost of these treatments out. So, if you suddenly end up needing a root canal or an extraction you are protected from unexpected high costs.
What do dental insurance policies cover?
At Get Dental Plans, the dental insurance plans that we offer from Bupa and Unum, cover the following treatments. Please bear in mind that there are a variety of different dental insurance plans available, so you will need to let us know what you are looking to have covered for you and your staff.
check-ups
x-rays
hygienist
fillings
crowns
bridges
implants
root canal
extractions
periodontal treatment
emergency & accidents
NHS & private
Worldwide cover
How Much do I have to pay on the NHS?
Dentistry is one of the few NHS services where you have to pay a contribution towards the cost of your care. The information on this page explains what you may have to pay for your NHS dental treatment.
Emergency dental treatment – £23.80 This covers emergency care in a primary care NHS dental practice such as pain relief or a temporary filling.
Band 1 course of treatment – £23.80 This covers an examination, diagnosis (including X-rays), advice on how to prevent future problems, a scale and polish if clinically needed, and preventative care such as the application of fluoride varnish or fissure sealant if appropriate.
Band 2 course of treatment – £65.20 This covers everything listed in Band 1 above, plus any further treatment such as fillings, root canal work or removal of teeth but not more complex items covered by Band 3.
Band 3 course of treatment – £282.80 This covers everything listed in Bands 1 and 2 above, plus crowns, dentures, bridges and other laboratory work.
By looking at this, it is easier to see the case for dental insurance and how it can help you and your employees to spread the cost of their dental care.
There are other aspects to consider too, such as the fact that it is becoming increasingly harder to find an NHS dentist in the UK and having a dental insurance policy is a good way to ensure that you are receiving dental care. Also, a lot of NHS dentists offer private care, so most of your employees would not even need to change dentist.
The impact of looking after your oral health can have a much wider impact than just your mouth health. Good oral health is linked to a myriad of other health conditions and can stop more serious conditions from developing. All of our company dental insurance plans cover the cost of check-ups and hygienist visits, which are a great way to help prevent the progression of much more serious dental conditions, including mouth cancer.
At Get Dental Plans, we fully appreciate that budgets are stretched, but if you are considering offering dental insurance as an employee benefit, come and speak to us and we can show you clearly how helping to protect the health of your employees, is a benefit worth your investment and will pay back in the longer term.
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