Best Health Insurance With Dental Coverage
Dental care costs in Singapore can range from a few hundreds to even thousands of dollars according to the estimated average costs for dental procedures by the Ministry of Health (MOH). However, with Singapore's rising core inflation in the first half of 2023, we can expect our dental care costs to go up.
Thus, having dental insurance comes in handy whether it is for your regular polishing or wisdom tooth surgery, as Medisave can only cover the basics. It helps to know that most companies in Singapore offer dental benefits insurance coverage as part of their corporate health care plan for employees, so not many of us need to get our own private dental insurance plans. Let’s find out which dental procedures are covered by Medisave or not, the best dental insurance plans around and how to pick a suitable one for you and your loved ones.
Best Health Insurance Plans With Dental Coverage
With a total claim limit of up to $4.5 million, AXA Insurance Singapore offers comprehensive dental insurance coverage that includes basic dental procedures such as check-ups, scaling, and fillings, as well as more advanced treatments such as root canal therapy, orthodontics, and dental implants.
The usual inpatient and outpatient costs, pre-hospitalisation cover and post-hospitalisation cover of up to 90 days from the date of discharge, pre-existing and congenital conditions. For routine dental care treatments, Plan A provides up to $2,500, while Plan B provides up to $250, but if you chose Plan C, you wouldn’t be able to claim for any routine dental care treatments such as dental examinations, extractions, fillings, scaling, polishing, x-ray, fluoride treatments, etc.
Prudential’s PRUShield is also an Integrated Shield Plan (IP) like Great Eastern’s GREAT SupremeHealth. Comprising 3 different plan types, only 2 of the plan types offer “Accidental Inpatient Dental Treatment” coverage and they are the Premier and Plus options.
Being the highest tier of the 3 plan types, the Premier gives you access to private and public hospitals, while Plus lets you claim for stays at class A wards and below in public restructured hospitals.
For claim benefits related to dental treatments, you’ll be able to claim for amounts for any accidental inpatient dental treatments as charged (which means there isn’t really any claim limits), so your bills for any dental procedures done for you when your natural teeth lost or damaged through an accident, will all be covered for either the Premier or Plus plan. The annual premiums for their plans range from $229 to $693, if you’re talking about the age range from 1 to 50.
Known for its highest-in-market medical coverage at a cost-effective price, this integrated shield plan covers any accidental dental treatments or surgeries under inpatient hospital treatments.
Depending on your preferred choice of public or private healthcare, you can select different healthcare tiers with various coverage caps; the highest going up to $2 million a year and lengthy pre- and post-hospitalisation coverage of 13 months are included as well for the highest tier. Just like many of the healthcare plans, you’ll need to go through an AIA panel healthcare provider to enjoy these benefits.
Similar to Prudential’s PRUShield Premier and Plus, AIA’s HealthShield GoldMax plans allow you to claim for amounts for any accidental inpatient dental treatments as charged. The annual premiums for their plans range from $101 (for a GoldMax B plan) to $1080 (for a GoldMax A plan), if you’re talking about the age range from 1 to 50.
GREAT SupremeHealth has one of the cheapest integrated shield plans on the market with its Standard, A Plus, B Plus and P Plus plans that come with accidental dental coverage.
Any accidental dental treatments or surgeries will be covered under inpatient hospital treatment. Great Eastern’s range is considered decent with a yearly claim limit of up to $1.5 million, although the coverage is less than AIA’s. Similar to Prudential’s PRUShield Premier and Plus and AIA’s HealthShield GoldMax plans, GREAT SupremeHealth’s 4 types of plans allow you to claim for amounts for any accidental inpatient dental treatments as charged. The annual premiums for GREAT SupremeHealth’s plans range from $31 (for a Standard plan) to $656 (for a P Plus plan), if you’re talking about the age range from 1 to 50.
You’ll be able to claim up to $1,400 for basic and routine dental work as well as complex dental work with FWD’s customisable plan. Highlights of this plan includes the “No Claims Bonus” which doubles your annual limit when you do not make any hospitalisation claims for two years, flexibility to choose an annual limit ranging from $100,000 to $3 million, and the being able to adjust your deductible to any amount $0 to $10,000.
As for claim benefits related to accidental inpatient dental treatments, you’ll be able to claim for any amount as charged.
How To Choose Dental Insurance?
When choosing a dental insurance plan, it is important to consider the type of coverage offered, the cost of the plan, and the network of dentists covered under the plan. Some insurance plans may only cover basic procedures such as fillings and extractions, while others may offer coverage for more extensive procedures such as orthodontics or dental implants.
Consider your dental needs
Before choosing a dental insurance plan, assess your dental needs and requirements. Coverage for basic procedures or more extensive treatments such as orthodontics will require a wider coverage in your plan and do remember to check your employment benefits for dental reimbursement as well.
If your employer offers you dental insurance and dental health benefits under your corporate health care plan, with a co-payment aspect or other payment arrangements, you may not need to get such comprehensive private dental insurance on your own.
Price points of suitable plans
Consider the cost of the insurance plan and how it fits into your budget. Some plans may have a higher premium but offer more comprehensive coverage, while others may have a lower premium but limited coverage. Some plans may have limits on the amount they will pay for specific procedures, or they may not cover certain treatments at all.
Compare standalone plans vs inclusive plans
Most dental insurance coverage benefits are inclusive in healthcare insurance plans but there are a few standalone ones like EverDental Care — the standalone dental insurance policy underwritten by Chubb that is offered by Maybank at the moment. Providing up to 100% coverage for emergency treatments, and routine preventative treatments once a year, EverDental Care also gives you up to 70% cover for extractions, surgical work, root canals, fillings, and other conservative procedures.
As mentioned, you’ll need to think about your dental needs first before deciding to go with either an all-inclusive healthcare insurance plan with dental benefits or to go with just a dental insurance coverage plan that is separate from your healthcare insurance.
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What Are The Average Costs Of Dental Treatments?
Can I Use Medisave For Dental Treatments?
If you’re wondering if you can utilise your Medisave to pay for your dental treatment, it really depends on whether your dental treatment is non-surgical or surgical, and performed due to medical or non-medical reasons. Those done with medical reasons include:
- Surgical extraction of wisdom tooth
- Dental implants
- Bone grafting
- Gum grafting
- Jaw surgery
- Root canal surgery
Thus, non-surgical dental procedures especially those for cosmetic purposes like non-surgical crowning, dentures, tooth extractions, etc., that do not involve surgery, are excluded from Medisave claims.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it important to get health insurance with dental coverage?
- Yes and no. With the rising costs of dental procedures in Singapore, and most dental treatments being non-Medisave claimable, it is wiser to get dental insurance coverage, whether it is part of a health insurance plan, or just a standalone dental insurance plan.
How do I pick a suitable dental insurance plan?
- When it comes to picking a dental insurance plan, there are several factors to consider such as the type of coverage offered, the cost of the plan, and the network of dentists covered under the plan. Some insurance plans may only cover basic procedures such as fillings and extractions, while others may offer coverage for more extensive procedures such as orthodontics or dental implants.
Should I pick a healthcare insurance plan or a standalone dental insurance plan?
- This depends on what you really need. Whether it’s a comprehensive healthcare insurance plan that comes with a dental coverage component, or a standalone dental insurance plan, the type of insurance policy is ideal for you will depend on your current health situation, and your dental care needs. You’ll also need to consider your dental benefits that your employer offers in the corporate healthcare plan that they provide for you.
Can I use my Medisave to pay for my dental treatments?
- Yes and no, it really depends on whether your dental treatment is non-surgical or surgical, and performed due to medical or non-medical reasons. Non-surgical dental procedures especially those for cosmetic purposes like non-surgical crowning, dentures, tooth extractions, etc., that do not involve surgery, are excluded from Medisave claims.