HEALTH INSURANCE WITH DENTAL COVER

“I always notice a person's smile. I'm a dental hygienist.” - Winifred Hervey.

Dental insurance coverage in health insurance plans in India

While dental treatment is an expensive medical affair, most health insurance policies, typically, do not provide coverage for dental expenditures. Though it is available mostly in the case of accidents. Generally, under an accidental and illness hospitalisation cover, medical expenses that you incur due to any essential dental treatment taken as a result of an accident gets covered. Dental surgery and treatment are definitely covered under certain policies if the same requires a minimum of twenty-four hours hospitalization and especially if caused by an accident.

Dental treatment facility comes with a waiting period and a limited sum insured. The best way to cover dental issues in a health insurance plan is to select an appropriate plan that offers you a smaller waiting period and larger sum insured for dental treatment.

In India, several health insurance companies offer plans with dental insurance cover as part of their basic coverage or as an add-on benefit. Thought there are not many separate dental insurance plans in India. Typically, dental coverage is available as part of a comprehensive health insurance plan where the policyholder is able to claim dental expenses along with other medical reimbursements similar to cost of hospitalization or medicines.

Kinds of health insurance plans in India with dental coverage

There are various types of health insurance plans that offer dental insurance cover in India. Some of which include;

• Individual health plans that cover all medical expenses of an individual including dental as an add-on benefit
• Critical illness plans that specifically cover medical expenses for treatment of a critical illness. In such plans dental surgeries get covered
• Family floater health insurance plans that cover medical expenses of entire family include dental cover
• OPD health insurance plans that cover outpatient medical expenses of the insured that involve dental OPD consultations, tests and medicines
• Personal accident plans cover dental expenses that are a result of an accident

Buying dental insurance

You can buy dental coverage as part of health insurance plan either offline from an agent or directly an insurance company. It can also be purchased online following simple procedure of insurance provider to buy the specific plan that covers dental expenses. The documents generally required while applying for dental insurance include;

• Identity Proof like passport or Aadhaar card
• Pan card or Voter ID copy
• Address Proof like driving license or telephone bill
• Passport size photographs
• Hospital or Clinic discharge summary
• Duly filled claim form
• KYC and policy document
• Pharmacy or Consultation bill
• Complete hospital bill
• Policy documents

The claim for dental insurance plan can also be availed in the cashless facility after showing all the documents and proof as well as catering to the terms and conditions of the plan.

Inclusions and Exclusions under dental coverage

Inclusions under dental coverage include:

• Root canal
• Dental infection
• Dental implant
• Oral cyst
• Filling tooth
• Dental Xray
• Dental extraction
• Preventive dental treatment
• Follow-up treatment
• Dental surgeries
• Oral health check-up
• Gum treatment

Exclusions under dental coverage are:

• Dentures
• Cosmetic treatments
• Jaw alignment
• Other dental expenditure

 

Benefits of buying a health insurance plan that covers dental expenses

When you go for a health insurance plan with dental coverage always look for coverage and limitations to know your protection, make comparison of benefits offered and check for cost effective plan.

The benefits you can reap from selecting a health insurance plan with dental coverage include;

• Covers dental treatments that are expensive
• Helps maintain dental health as added advantage
• Provides cashless hospitalization option
• Has tax related benefits on health insurance

Selecting health insurance plan with dental benefit where you need to pay only little extra premium but can enjoy dental cover is a wise choice.

‘’She laughs at everything you say. Why? Because she has fine teeth.” – Benjamin Franklin.

FAQs – Frequently asked questions.

Let’s look at some frequent queries on whether health insurance cover dental treatment expenses:

Q1. Does accidental dental injury get covered by all dental insurance plans?

Yes. All dental insurance plans in India cover the accidental dental injury treatment cost.

Q2. Does dental insurance plan cover treatments like a root canals or dental implants?

No. Dental insurance plans cover treatments for a root canals but not for dental implants.

Q3. Is tooth extraction cost covered by dental insurance?

Yes. Dental insurance plans cover tooth extraction expenses.

Q4. Does dental health insurance provide cover for braces?

Yes, many dental health insurance plans cover for teeth alignment mainly for adolescents.