Why Is Dental Not Covered By Health Insurance?

Whole health depends on maintaining good dental hygiene. Cavities and tooth decay can result from neglecting your oral health. For instance, if dental plaque is ignored and you don’t go to the dentist to have it removed from your tooth enamel, you could get a bacterial infection in your mouth. Like any other medical operation, dental work can cost up to two months’ worth of wages. Yet, they are typically excluded, and there are no riders available to cover dental care. Have you ever questioned why dental care is not a health insurance benefit? 

Why aren’t dental services covered by health insurance? 

In India, the majority of insurance companies will pay for dental work if a serious accident necessitates medical attention. Also, if dental procedures are carried out on the advice of licensed medical professionals, you could be entitled to settle your connected claims if certain oral conditions have developed into life-threatening ones. 

Planned dental operations are not covered by insurers. These practices fall under the category of cosmetic treatments. For instance, any related claim will be rejected if you see your dentist for a dental examination, a crown, an extraction, or fillings.   

However, not all dental procedures are covered by health insurance. If you are hurt in an accident and need dental work, certain health insurance plans may pay for it. Then there are additional health insurance plans that, if you choose an outpatient department (OPD) feature, might provide dental care. Therefore, dental operations carried out only for aesthetic reasons are not covered by OPD benefits. *

Thus it should be clear that there is a lot of confusion about whether dental benefits should be included in health insurance. To avoid straying into the murky middle ground, it may frequently be a smart idea to just purchase a separate dental insurance plan. 

What is a dental plan? 

As you might have guessed, dental insurance is a type of insurance that pays for dental surgeries and treatments. You can purchase standalone dental insurance policies if you want more comprehensive dental insurance coverage, while it may occasionally be included in regular health insurance coverage. 

Why do you need dental insurance? 

Whether it’s a root canal or a dental reconstruction after an accident, dental operations can be expensive. If you don’t have an emergency fund to fall back on, a sudden dental expense could wipe out a sizable portion of your funds. People frequently have a tendency to forgo the necessary dental care when confronted with such an unforeseen contingency because of the high price. Yet, receiving subpar dental care can also be detrimental. 

Having said that, having a standard to use as guidance is always helpful. Hence, to assist you, here are some tips. Purchasing dental insurance could be necessary if: 

  • Dental insurance is not covered by your health insurance plan. 
  • You are more likely to experience dental issues. 
  • You are employed in hazardous or injury-prone settings. 
  • You don’t have enough money set aside in an emergency fund for unexpected medical expenses. 

In conclusion, you now understand the alternative to the fact that health insurance policies typically do not cover dental operations. There is a very fine line separating dental insurance from health insurance. And frequently, that boundary is hazy. 

A health insurance premium calculator is a tool you may use online to determine the amount of coverage required based on your needs.

To better understand the scope of dental insurance coverage provided, if any, while purchasing a conventional health insurance plan, review the terms and conditions of the policy. This will enable you to decide whether or not you require dental insurance more intelligently. Additionally, you can also compare health insurance plans.

* Standard T&C Apply

Insurance is the subject matter of solicitation. For more details on benefits, exclusions, limitations, terms, and conditions, please read the sales brochure/policy wording carefully before concluding a sale.

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