What Dental Procedures are Covered by Medical Insurance?

Comprehensive Guide to Dental Coverage in Indian Health Insurance Plans

Health insurance plans in India are yet to cover dental procedures directly under their policy. However, they offer dental treatment coverage under outpatient procedures and in the form of riders and add-ons in case of certain policies. This coverage provides financial backup for expenses related to diagnostic tests, dental consultations, dental surgeries, and dental procedures.

Keep reading to learn in detail about the dental procedures commonly covered by medical insurance!

Dental Procedures Covered by Medical Insurance

The procedures covered under dental treatment coverage vary from one insurer to another. Some of the basic procedures that are covered include:

● Tooth filling

● Tooth extraction

● Regular checkups

● Tooth cleanings

● Root canals

● Dental injury due to accidents

● Preventive health checkups

● Orthodontics

● Tooth X-rays

Since these procedures are pretty expensive, getting a health insurance plan that covers dental procedures is sure to provide you with the required financial coverage. You can get several other benefits upon purchasing this plan.

Benefits of Purchasing Health Plans Offering Dental Coverage

Listed below are some of the exclusive dental coverage benefits that you can get from health insurance plans:

● Helps Preserve Dental Health: You can go for regular dental checkups and opt for periodic teeth cleaning from a network hospital. These procedures allow you to protect your dental health without incurring additional costs.

● Offers Adequate Financial Coverage: Dental cleaning is usually a twice-a-year affair and can cost you substantially. Even procedures like tooth filling, tooth extraction, root canals, and oral surgeries can cost you thousands of rupees. However, dental coverage offers adequate financial assistance, minimizing your expenses.

● Keeps You Prepared for Emergencies: With the purchase of health insurance, you can stay financially protected during dental injury due to accidents. Thus, you can opt for all the necessary treatments without worrying about depleting your savings.

● Offers Cashless Treatment Facilities: The cashless treatment options ensure that your insurer takes care of the bill payment when you go for planned treatment or emergencies at a network hospital. Star Health offers over 14,000 network hospitals, making it easier for you to locate one near your place of stay.

● Covers Expenses on Consumables: Health insurance plans offering dental coverage reimburse the costs of consumables that the policyholder has used during hospitalization.

● Promotes Preventive Health Checkups: Preventive oral health checkups allow you to diagnose and treat conditions at their initial stage. This ensures fewer complications and does not require advanced treatment procedures to cure the condition.

● Allows Tax Benefits on Premiums: Section 80D of the Income Tax Act will enable policyholders to claim annual deductions on the premiums paid towards the health insurance plan.

● Ensures Peace of Mind: The dual benefit of good dental hygiene and cost savings offers you the peace of mind that your smile is protected without excess out-of-pocket expenses. Also, it keeps you prepared for emergencies, so you do not have to worry about sudden dental treatment costs.

Since dental insurance plans are not available as standalone policies, you mostly need to purchase them as a rider alongside your standard health insurance plan. However, there are some types of policies available that offer dental coverage.

Health Insurance Plan Types in India That Offer Dental Insurance

Various health insurance plans in India that offer dental coverage include:

● Critical Illness Plans: This type of insurance plan often covers the cost of dental treatments of the insured individual if they have been inflicted during the treatment of the critical illness mentioned in the policy.

● Family Floater Plans: The plans often cover the dental expenses of all the members added to the policy if mentioned under the clauses.

● Individual Dental Insurance: They are tailored to the dental needs of the policyholder. These plans primarily cover the expenses of routine dental surgeries and emergency dental procedures.

● Personal Accident Plans: In some scenarios, a personal accident plan can offer financial coverage if dental damage has been caused due to accidents.

● Outpatient Health Plans: The outpatient health plan covers various dental expenses of the policyholder, such as dental OPD consultations, diagnostic tests for dental damage, and medicine for dental treatments.

The coverage of dental procedures varies with policies and insurers. Hence, it is imperative to go through the policy terms at the time of purchase to ensure that they offer maximum coverage on a vast range of procedures. Additionally, it is essential to check the insurance provider's claim settlement ratio to ensure that you do not have to wait for long to get your policy claims settled.

Choose Star Health for comprehensive plans that offer dental coverage!