Worth opting in to Dental Insurance through new job?

[redrabbit29]

Hi all,

My new job comes with health insurance through Bupa.

They also offer Dental cover, cost for 2 people = £76.81 which would cover my partner and I. This equates to £921 per year.

This is a "level 4 cover" which covers:

Routine Examination: up to £140 per year
Scale and Polish: up to £180 per year
Dental X-Ray: £90 per year
Fillings or root canal: £350 per year
Extractions: £200 per year
Restorative Treatments: 80% of the cost up to £2000
NHS Treatment by NHS Dentist = 100% reimbursement

Do you think this is a good deal? We are both currently with NHS dentists, in fairly good health with standard checkups and hyginest most years, the rare white filling but nothing too dramatic.

I've never been offered dental insurance.

Is this a "no brainer" and a good option?

Thanks

[Radec]

If you are NHS registered you'd only pay 1 of the 3 bands depending on the treatment you need.
If you've got a good dentist then no point if you both have good teeth and would only require a deep clean once every 6 months and check ups.

Your health insurance should cover you 100% if you require oral surgery in a hospital outside of the dental plan but check the t&cs

Edited by Radec on Friday 17th February 13:43

[redrabbit29]

Thanks both - I will just do the medical insurance and not dental as we're happy with our NHS dentists

[K87]

I agree with cheesecake, I cannot find an NHS dentist and I am on the waiting list at two private dentists but no prospect of an appointment before 2024. A dental plan will often have a dentist attached to it. If I had the choice I would go for the scheme.

I had a broken molar two years ago when I lived in London, I found a private dentist who would do it but they wanted £4950 as an estimate and they had the option to increase if the work proved difficult. Damn thing broke just on a mint imperial!y

Eta, you may want to check to see if this is taxed as a benefit in kind if that is a concern to you.

Edited by K87 on Saturday 18th February 18:28

[peew]

Are you sure that is a monthly cost? My work one is about that per year with similar coverage.

[Armitage.Shanks]

K87 said:

I had a broken molar two years ago when I lived in London, I found a private dentist who would do it but they wanted £4950 as an estimate and they had the option to increase if the work proved difficult. Damn thing broke just on a mint imperial!y

If that price is not criminal it should be.

[K87]

Armitage.Shanks said:

K87 said:

I had a broken molar two years ago when I lived in London, I found a private dentist who would do it but they wanted £4950 as an estimate and they had the option to increase if the work proved difficult. Damn thing broke just on a mint imperial.

If that price is not criminal it should be.

Well, it was Canary Wharf! Service providers make the Krays look like angels.

[hungry_hog]

important Q - have you had your wisdoms out?

I luckily had them done whilst I had dental cover....one was 1.5k as impacted and needed a special surgeon. When she said she only worked 2 days a week I know it would be expensive! All done under local.

[redrabbit29]

peew said:

Are you sure that is a monthly cost? My work one is about that per year with similar coverage.

Yea i believe so:

[redrabbit29]

hungry_hog said:

important Q - have you had your wisdoms out?

I have not but I don't think I have them coming through. I'm nearly 40 - and Dentist has never mentioned it. I know they can appear later in life but I thought I'd be past that by now?

[Radec]

You might be better off with a cash plan if your work do them so you can get reimbursed on the costs incurred on your treatment.

[K87]

I have asked a local dentists what they would charge per person on a monthly membership basis, the best scheme is £35 and would cover most treatments that could arise including two hygienist trips a year. Big stuff such as root canal work would not be included.

They have cheaper options at £19 a month for one check up, one hygienist visit and one filling a year.

[redrabbit29]

Thanks - I have put the insurance forms in now, opted only for medical, NOT dental. The price just didn't seem worth it and I'm content with my own NHS dentist, plus thankfully have no major teeth issues

[Sheepshanks]

CheesecakeRunner said:

I never bothered. But then my dentist who I’ve used for 30 years decided to go private only, and there’s no NHS dentists within 40 miles accepting new patients. So was pretty much forced into it.

World beating NHS an’ all that.

Same for us - our Dentist bounced us into Denplan. Started off at £40/mth for both of us a few year ago. Just got this year's renewal and it's £55. I use the hygienist four times a year as have a problem with tartar build-up.

I checked adding it on to our work private medical and it was way more expensive.

As far as I know the cover is for pretty well everything, apart from crowns (just the crown itself) and implants unless required after an accident.

Dentist turned out on a Sunday, which was a Christmas Eve, a few years ago to replace a filling (not done by her) that dropped out. It would have somewhat spoiled Christmas if she hadn't done that.

[fourstardan]

Ive got BUPA dental in my package but just didn't see it being worth the aggro of doing it through work.

I could sign up for about the same price regardless.

[Kudos]

I’ve Bupa as well but don’t pay so much monthly. Had a crown fitted last month which cost £620. Bupa paid £500 of that