Dental Health Insurance In India 2024: A Complete Guide
Updated On Feb 06, 2024
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It’s no secret that oral health has a sizable impact on your well-being. If you’ve ever experienced a toothache while attending a conference far from home or needed a crown repair just when you thought your teeth were in tip-top shape, you know that dental care is of primary importance.
However, there’s no need to wait until you’re in pain before you think about oral care. Your health insurance policy likely covers everything from preventative care to major surgeries, but most plans do not include dental coverage.
What Is Dental Insurance In India?
Dental insurance is a health insurance benefit or we say add-on feature which is offered under health insurance plans which covers all the dental treatment costs and procedures such as dental surgery and OPD consultations.
As some insurance companies offer dental insurance separately, it is mostly offered in all the comprehensive plans. The policyholder can claim their medical expenses with the dental treatment costs under this oral healthcare insurance.
Why Do You Need Dental Health Insurance?
Due to high inflation, increase in medical costs, modern lab set-up and expertise requirements, the cost of treatments is increasing rapidly. To ensure that the individual does not have to face any financial difficulty while getting the treatment done, it is recommended to always opt for dental care insurance.
Let's take an example, suppose you are prone to dental problems such as oral cavities, gum issues, tooth decay, etc. This means that you will need to see a doctor more often than usual which requires financial support or cutting down the savings. To save the individual from such problems, opting for health insurance and choosing the right dental plan is recommended.
Features Of Dental Insurance Plans
- In-Patient Dental Treatment: All the expenses for in-patient treatment under anaesthesia necessitated due to illness/ injuries or accidents will be covered.
- OPD Dental Treatment: The expenses of the treatment such as tooth filling, tooth extraction and root canal treatment are included in the health insurance.
Benefits Of Health Insurance That Covers Dental Treatments
The following are the top benefits of a dental health insurance plan:
- Dental coverage for treatments and procedures: As the treatments are not cheap, they can cut down the pockets easily but buying insurance can get it all covered saving you from all the expenses.
- Preventative Health Checkup: Other than the treatment costs, you can also cover the costs of all the dental examinations.
- Consumables Benefit: Any consumables during your hospitalisation period for your treatment is covered as well.
- Cashless Facility: You can claim cashless payment options at all the network hospitals for emergency and planned hospitalization.
- Tax Benefits: Opting for oral health care insurance makes you eligible for tax benefits under Section 80D of the Income Tax Act.
Dental Insurance Coverage
The Oral health coverage in insurance will be different for all insurance companies in India. Always compare all the details and benefits of dental insurance and check their coverage before buying a policy.
if you are prone to dental issues, it is advised to always ask and confirm all the general and OPD treatment benefits with the insurance company.
How To File A Dental Insurance Claim?
Below are the steps to file your dental health insurance claim with easy steps:
- Visit the official website of the insurance company.
- Click on the "claims" option present on the website's homepage.
- Select the "initiate a claim" option and choose "health" from the options.
- Login with your registered email address and then click on "confirm".
- Fill the claim details and then upload the documents.
- After submitting the claim forms, you will receive a call from the claim department of the insurance company.
Things To Remember When Buying Dental Insurance Policy
Here are five things you should know before you purchase dental insurance.
1. Most Plans Cover Preventative Care
Annual checkups or six-month checkups can get costly. They typically include a cleaning, a visual inspection from the dentist, and x-rays every year.
Most dental insurance plans cover 100% of the cost. However, some may only cover around 60%. When purchasing your plan, make sure that all preventative care fees are included, as these visits are what ward off future, more costly appointments.
2. Basic Restorative Care Coverage is Critical
Most dental plans will cover 80% of the cost of fillings, extractions, and re-cementing of previous crowns and bridges. You’ll pay the remaining 20%.
Keep in mind, though, that most dental plans will only cover amalgam (silver) fillings, not composite (tooth-coloured) fillings. So if you want to avoid metal fillings, there may be additional costs.
3. Major Restorative Services are Likely Covered
Crowns, bridges, implants, and root canals are typically covered at a rate of 50%. Although it may seem like you’re still paying a lot, in reality, you likely won’t need these services often. However, when you do, you’ll be glad to only pay half of what you would without insurance.
4. Corrective Services Aren’t Typically Included
If you need braces or other orthodontia, you’ll want to consider buying a rider policy (unless the plan you are considering provides coverage). These are usually just a few dollars more per month and typically cover 50% of the cost of your service.
5. Dental Plans Have Waiting Periods
Although dental plans can save you a whole lot of money, you don’t want to save up all your dental work for the first month you purchase a plan.
Typically, preventative care visits are covered immediately, or within 30 days. Basic restorative services may be covered after 3 months, and major restorative services after 6 months. Even then, you’ll want to check how much your policy covers during a calendar year. Some policies may only cover a few services each year.
Conclusion
Dental treatments can be very expensive in India. But still, many health insurance plans in India don't include dental treatment coverage. Some policies offer built-in dental health benefits under OPD coverage. Always look carefully at all the details such as policy terms and make better choices. Before buying a healthcare plan, check that it includes dental coverage.
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