More Britons insuring teeth

June 7, 2008

Cost of dental treatment rising as more dentists enter private practice

LONDON - AS MORE and more dentists go private and the cost of treatment soars, a growing number of British consumers are insuring their pearly whites.

'In a way, we really should not call it 'insurance', but 'assurance', because it is covering against the probable,' said Mr Mike Izzard, chairman of the Association of Medical Insurance Intermediaries (Amii).

The cost of a standard filling in Britain can go up to three figures in many cases, and even a routine check-up by the National Health Service (NHS) can dent the bank balance.

'The number of NHS dentists is dropping, and access to dental work from the NHS is diminishing all the time,' Mr Izzard said.

This means most dentists now run a private practice, which charges much more. Mounting costs are leading to neglect of oral care, with almost a third of 1,000 adults surveyed in the country saying they have not visited a dentist in the past two years.

A fifth has not had dental work that was recommended due to the costs involved, according to the poll commissioned earlier this year by dental company Dentale.

Dental tourism is seeing a boom - an estimated 1.29 million people have had dental treatment outside of Britain because of lower costs.

This can prove economical for those who need a lot of dental work, but for those looking to cut the cost of routine treatment closer to home, insurance is rising in popularity.

'Everyone will use it. It just depends how much,' Mr Izzard said.

Most insurance companies in Britain are now offering dental insurance that helps pay for routine treatments, dental emergencies and serious dental problems - whether the treatments are done privately or by the NHS.

Premiums are based on age, while benefits vary from one plan to another, but in general the more you pay, the more your insurer will pay out, according to consumer organisation.

The most basic - and cheapest - policies tend to cover emergency and non-emergency treatment, but not regular check-ups.

Some will refund a percentage of the cost of general dental treatment up to an annual cap.

Consumers also have the alternative of choosing a capitation scheme, which will allow them to pay the cost of treatment on a monthly basis instead of settling bills as and when they arise.

The premium for the payment depends on the condition of the teeth and running costs of the operation, and it is determined after the patient has consulted a dentist who has signed up to such a scheme.

REUTERS

3EA and 3EB, we just finished the topic on British healthcare and this article proves to us that rising healthcare cost is indeed a concern among the people. Read the article and tell me whether did NHS meet the needs of the people?