| This April the Government is forcing a | | | | Their policy insures you for up to 1,000 |
| new service contract on dentists that | | | | per year for routine work but it won't |
| includes a new pay scale, changes to | | | | pay for check-ups. Accidental damage up |
| their working hours and surgery | | | | to 1,000 per year and dental emergencies |
| arrangements. Now dentists are not a | | | | are insured up to 5,000 per year. |
| cantankerous profession, but there's | | | | Many policies also limit the number of |
| widespread irritation and | | | | dental treatments they'll pay each year. |
| disillusionment amongst them at the | | | | For example, the policy from Boot's |
| Governments seemingly heavy-handed | | | | limits your claims to two check-ups, one |
| action. And they're determined not to be | | | | crown and four fillings a year up to |
| pushed around. | | | | 500. Boot's policies start at 9 per |
| As a result thousands of dentists are | | | | month. |
| registering their refusal to accept the | | | | Capitalisation Schemes This is the most |
| new contract and have given their notice | | | | expensive option. Prior to taking up the |
| to quit the NHS at the end of March. | | | | policy, your dentist has to make an |
| This will create mayhem for clients. | | | | assessment of your dental health and |
| Many seeking treatment on the NHS will | | | | places you in one of five treatment |
| be simply turned away. Those dentists | | | | groups. This will determine how much |
| who do accept the new NHS contract will | | | | your scheme costs. The better your |
| then face a flood of new clients seeking | | | | dental condition, the less you pay. |
| treatment. The vast majority will again | | | | For example, Denplan's dental care |
| be turned away as even before this bust | | | | scheme costs between 9 and 30 per month. |
| up, there was a dire shortage of | | | | We are told that their average fee is |
| dentists. Waiting lists are bound to be | | | | 16. |
| a mile long. No, sorry, two miles long! | | | | Cash Plans The last alternative is a |
| As a result, if you are desperate for | | | | composite health cash plan. These pay |
| treatment to a broken tooth or an | | | | out for dentistry but also a wide range |
| abscess, you'll be forced to search out | | | | of other health treatments such as |
| a community based dental surgery | | | | optical treatment, hospital treatment, |
| operated by the NHS itself. Ask your | | | | physiotherapy, chiropody even allergy |
| Doctor for directions to the closest to | | | | testing. Each policy spells out exactly |
| you. The odds are they'll be miles away. | | | | what is covered and the maximum value |
| This means a long journey plus a | | | | you can claim to for each kind of health |
| hospital style queue on arrival. Getting | | | | treatment. You have plenty of choice as |
| dental treatment will simply take all | | | | most cash plans offer three or four |
| day! | | | | grades of benefit level. The more you |
| For many, private dentistry is the only | | | | pay, the more you can claim. Some plans |
| alternative. Going private means you'll | | | | allow you to reclaim 100% of the cost up |
| get an appointment when you want one | | | | to the annual maximum set for each |
| rather than waiting for ages with the | | | | health category, some will only pay a |
| NHS, and you can pick and choose your | | | | proportion of the cost. With cash plans, |
| dentist. But it can be expensive. The | | | | the maximum cover for dentistry tends to |
| only good news is that there are | | | | be in the range of 70 to 200 per year |
| solutions to keep costs under control. | | | | depending on the company you choose and |
| You essentially have three key options: | | | | the option you go for. |
| dental insurance, capitalisation schemes | | | | For examples of cash plans, visit and |
| or cash plans. | | | | Click on cash plans when you get there. |
| Dental Insurance The insurance industry | | | | How to get top value in Dental cover As |
| has responded with a whole host of | | | | with most types of insurance, you'll get |
| varying dental insurance policies. The | | | | it cheapest on the Internet. Search for |
| following are just some typical | | | | dental insurance but use the .co.uk |
| examples: | | | | variant of your search engine otherwise |
| Western Provident has been in the dental | | | | you'll come up with masses of American |
| insurance market for many years. Its | | | | sites! |
| Providential policy provides a basic | | | | The best UK sites to visit are those |
| level of dentistry cover with fixed | | | | that either enable you to compare plans |
| monthly premiums. For those aged 18 to | | | | or those operated by a specialist dental |
| 49 the premium is 12.48 and 15.90 per | | | | insurance broker. With brokers, you |
| month for those between 50 and 69. | | | | submit your details and they'll come |
| Policyholders have to pay the first 25% | | | | back to you with the options and best |
| of each treatment but can claim up to | | | | dental policies available for you. |
| 250 per year towards routine treatment | | | | If you do want to go direct to an |
| including check-ups, visits to the | | | | insurance company, you can still do it |
| hygienist and fillings. Emergency dental | | | | on the Internet - but it's unlikely that |
| treatment can be claimed up to 1,000 per | | | | you'll stumble on exactly the best |
| year but cover for accidental dental | | | | policy for you amongst the many hundreds |
| injury is limited to 250 per treatment. | | | | available. And the broker may well be |
| 6 per month gets you basic dental | | | | cheaper. It will come as no surprise |
| insurance with Universal Provident. | | | | that we recommend the broker route! |