Pay-as-you-go You usually pay for treatment, NHS or private, either during the course of treatment or when it is finished. You usually pay at reception when you leave. Ask for a receipt for your payment. ‘Capitation schemes' for private treatment Capitation schemes are designed to help you ‘save up' for treatment by making a monthly payment by direct debit. Your dentist or an independent company will run the scheme. There are two types of plans: maintenance plans and comprehensive plans. Costs will vary from dentist to dentist and may also be based on how healthy your mouth is. A maintenance plan is provided through your dentist and is designed to offer preventive care. This would include a set number of examinations a year, including x-rays, and any scale and polishes you need. You will have to pay extra charges for any other dental procedures and laboratory fees. A comprehensive plan usually offers unlimited dental treatment, but again may not cover laboratory fees and some types of treatment (such as dental implants). You will need to have a clean bill of health for your mouth before you can join most schemes. You may need to have a full course of treatment (pay-as-you-go) to achieve this. Some plans may include insurance cover for accidental damage and dental emergencies. Dental insurance (this can cover both NHS and private costs) You can get dental insurance yourself, or through your employer if they offer it. The cost will depend on the level of cover you choose. Dental insurance is usually designed to cover both routine and unplanned treatment. It can also include accident or emergency treatment, both in the UK and overseas, oral cancer cover, hospital cash payments and other items. There are a number of dental insurers, all providing their own dental insurance plans. It can be difficult to compare one plan with another. The main things you may want to consider when taking out insurance are: - Is there a ‘waiting period' before you can make a claim? That is, how long do you have to pay into the plan before you can claim on it?
- Is the level of cover suitable for your needs and the type of treatment you have (that is, NHS or private)?
- What percentage of the dentist's costs will you get back?
- Is there a policy ‘excess'? In other words, do you have to pay for example the first £20 of any claim you make?
- What is the total amount you are covered for and are there limits for specific treatments?
- How does the insurer treat problems with your teeth that you already had before you bought the cover?
Private medical insurance You can buy private medical insurance yourself or it is sometimes provided as a benefit by your employer. Most schemes do not cover ordinary dental treatment but will cover you in a situation where you need to be hospitalised for treatment. This could be, for example, having your wisdom teeth removed or a broken jaw treated by a consultant. You need to read your policy very carefully as you may think you are covered for a certain treatment when you are not. Cash plans These plans are similar to insurance. They are designed for you to claim back some of the costs you have paid for medical and dental treatment either on the NHS or privately. Most of them have limits on the amount you can claim in any membership year. You may also be able to use your cash plan for treatments by other professionals such as opticians, chiropodists and physiotherapists. Although similar to insurance, cash plans are not regulated by law in the way that insurance policies are, and do not cover the unexpected. Therefore you will not get the same benefits as you would with dental insurance. We advise you to check how much the refunds and benefits are for your individual plan. Loans and credit agreements If your dental treatment is expensive you may want to consider a loan. With a loan you borrow a sum of money and then pay it back over an agreed amount of time, often with interest. There are specialist loans for high-cost items of treatment such as cosmetic dentistry and implants.
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