When you take out health insurance to cover you for dental fees, you should be aware that:
- Each health fund determines what level of rebates it will pay, based on its own commercial requirements.
- An important aim of some health funds is, quite appropriately, to make profits for their shareholders as well as to provide rebates for their customers.
- The rebates payable on dental fees are unlikely, in many cases, to cover more than 60% for common dental items and may cover less than half the cost of complex and expensive procedures.
- For some people, these rebates may be of assistance in offsetting some of the costs for more expensive procedures but some arrangements may not always represent value for money for routine dentistry for you and your family.
- If you have a problem with your private health insurance, you should contact the fund directly. If you are unable to reach a satisfactory agreement with your fund, contact the Private Health Insurance Ombudsman, an independent body formed to help resolve complaints and provide advice and information. Before paying premiums for dental benefits, or selecting a particular benefit table, you should ensure that these costs represent value for you and your family.
- Unlike Medicare, dental fees are not subsidised by the Federal Government and there is no recognised fee schedule.
Is your smile holding you back? Research shows that people who smile more are more likely to be successful across many life domains than people who smile less. Having straight, healthy teeth can give you the confidence you need to show the world a big beautiful smile. And, a beautiful new smile may help open the doors to a fabulous new job, finding the perfect mate, making new friends, a relationship or simply a pleasant meeting. A great smile has magical powers. Never EVER underestimate the power of your smile!
If you are self conscious about the appearance of your teeth, and you feel your smile is holding you back, we can help you of getting a confident smile -the affordable way with Veneers Melbourne Payment Plan.
Transform your Smile with our PREPLESS OR NO-PREP PORCELAIN VENEER SPECIALS AND PACKAGE OFFER at $700 per tooth or from $45 weekly TLC payment plan* (Minimum 10 teeth to get this Veneer Package Specials)
Not everyone is fortunate enough to have a gold standard health insurance coverage to take care of every possible combination of health care situation.
When it comes to dealing with dental care, having a private dental health insurance plan is your best option to deal with unexpected dental costs.
However, what is the right type of dental coverage for you? Like most things in life – private dental coverage is not a ‘one size fits all’ solution, so picking the right plan from the outset is imperative. If you don’t, you’ll pay hundreds more than you need to, or worse, risk being improperly covered when you need it most.
There is an overwhelming number of plans to choose from, with different options available (and an overwhelming amount of fine print to read through).
Let’s clear up the dental insurance myth in Australia so that you can make a confident and informed decision.
How It Works: Health Insurance Dental In Australia, you don’t specifically look for ONLY dental coverage per se, as dental coverage will fall under your health insurance plan.
Basic dental treatments are usually covered by your health insurance plan by default (regular check-ups, cleaning etc.) and you have the option to add on extras dental cover for an extra premium (which will cover you for larger dental procedures)
Typically, dental coverage is available in one of two ways in Australia: general and major dental. Exactly what is classified as general or major is not black or white; it varies from one health insurance provider to the next, but in general, according to PrivateHealth.gov.au:
- General dental coverage: This refers to annual checkups, cleaning & fluoride treatment, minor fillings, and in general, most types of preventative dental work.
- Cosmetic dental work, which is anything that enhances the appearance and is not medically necessary (e.g. teeth whitening or dental implants) is NOT covered by health funds or Medicare.
- Lots of health funds offer basic levels of coverage as standard inclusions, with additional coverage options available as extras. Typically, the basic and extra’s coverage usually includes General dental procedures only.
- Additional extras options are usually offered that include treatments under both General and Major dental categories.
“So, Should I go for a health fund that covers general dental, or look for a plan that covers general + extra coverage for major dental work?” Selection of an appropriate type of policy is largely a function of your individual dental coverage requirements – For example:
- Young individuals (or couples), whose dental health is relatively good, may opt for general coverage
- Families or elderly individuals may be better served to opt for a plan that provides major dental coverage.
If you are relatively young and your teeth are in good health, there is generally no need to spend money on a plan that covers you for major dental complications. A basic plan that covers you for general dental will be good enough; just make sure you take advantage of the discounted preventive dental benefits to ensure your teeth stay in good shape!
If you feel like you will need an expensive procedure at some point in the future, for example, dental implants or dental veneers, then a higher level of cover is going to cost you more in the short term but save you more in the long run.
With so many health insurance providers available to choose from, it’s hard to decide whom to select as your provider of choice. Always do your own research and make decisions based on your own unique circumstances (rather than taking advice from your know-it-all neighbour)
Start by looking at the following obvious factors:
- Your age
Extra dental coverage may be required as you get older - The state of your dental health
Some seniors have enviable dental health, while some young adults may have severe dental issues. Select your coverage based on what your individual needs are. - Your financial state
Individuals that are in a high-income bracket, or those that are already enrolled in an employer-sponsored “gold standard” health care plan may not find extra coverage overly beneficial. - The economics of it.
Though individuals may enjoy great dental health, dental insurance should be decided upon based on the economies of the collective family unit. The larger the family, the greater the potential for dental expenditure, which might require extra coverage. When choosing your insurance provider, look for freebies that are offered
Always ask what out of pocket expenses will be for general and major dental procedures, to get a good idea of how much you will benefit. Even though you are paying for coverage, there will generally be out of pocket expenses. Pick 5 dental procedures (a few general, and a few major) and ask a few health insurance providers what your out-of-pocket expenses will be.
Do you offer ‘no gaps’ benefits? Some funds offer NO GAP provisions to their members; what that means is that members have no gap (out of pocket payment) to incur when they visit their dentist for procedures such as check-ups, removal of plaque, cleaning, x-rays and other routine treatments. Most good providers will offer a no-gap option nowadays.
PRO TIP: Keep your eye out for special offers from funds, during which they may waive (or reduce) the wait times associated with some of the extras. This is the best time to sign up to a new health insurance provider during a sale!
Chances are that you already have private health coverage, but the confusing question is, exactly what type of dental work are you covered for? If you have ancillary or extras with your health insurance cover, you should be able to get free (or low cost) preventative dental care, which is the best way to prevent expensive dental complications from arriving in the future.
PRO TIP: If your current health insurance provider does not provide you with reduced cost or free preventative dental care, consider moving to a company that does. Prevention is always better than a cure.
“Coverage for major dental procedures in Australia is quite weak”
And you’re right! Unfortunately, Australian health insurance providers do not provide amazing benefits by any means for patients seeking major dental work. Considering that some procedures can cost in the tens of thousands of dollars, it’s just too risky in their eyes.
While certain health providers do provide levels of coverage of up to $2000, you can only access this rebate once you’ve been with the company for 5 + years.
Your Preparation: The Best Dental CoverageHealth insurance exists to ensure that you’re protected in case of unexpected dental costs (e.g. Root Canal Costs which can be VERY VERY expensive if you’re not prepared, or wisdom teeth removal, which always seem to cost more than you were quoted for!)
As we age, we become more susceptible to diseases, including dental decay and orally borne illnesses that’s a fact we have to live with.
As we’ve revealed, coverage for major dental work is limited in Australia, meaning you’ll likely have to fork out a good deal of your own savings if you unexpectedly require any type of major dental work. So what can you do about?
Prevention is better than the cure – always strive to take care of your teeth and this means making use of your health funds general/preventative benefits: make use of the free regular checkups and subsidies preventive dental care!
Don’t leave choosing a dental health plan until it’s too late – joins a policy that has great general dental coverage ASAP and starts making use of your preventative dental care benefits.
Always read the fine print – Before signing up to a plan, to ensure you’re getting the best benefits your money can buy. These points are what you should be looking at.
Plan ahead for the chance of major dental work – You now know that your health insurance coverage will be limited and weak at best, so have a backup plan ready to go. This can be either putting away savings, asking your dentist if they offer payment plans, or considering dental tourism to save money.
Being covered by an appropriate dental health insurance plan will help relieve the stress of having to deal with such unexpected costs.
Dr. Zenaidy Castro understands the impact a beautiful smile can have on your daily life. She takes the time to listen to each patient’s goals in order to produce the best results for everyone who wants to have a better smile.
Dr. Zenaidy Castro love transforming smiles through cosmetic dentistry, and with her vast experience of over 30 years, the care and aesthetic results she provides for all her patients is unmatched. What sets her apart is her careful eye for detail and ensure they have superior results that meet her patients expectations.
She enjoys creating smiles based on the idea that each person is born with a unique smile, and believe that a beautiful smile is not a one-size-fits-all smile design or a an appearance that seems like coming from a single factory manufacturing line.
Dr. Zenaidy Castro will design the smile of your dreams. It is easier than you think! Just give us a call to set up your free aesthetic consultation and see for yourself what we can do to make your smile dreams come true. To learn more about working with Dr. Zenaidy Castro, contact Vogue Smiles Melbourne on 9629-7664.
Find out more about Dr. Zenaidy Castro as a dentist
Find out more about Dr. Zenaidy Castro as an abstract artist and Photographer
We don’t believe that dental care should be out of anyone’s price range. We want you to feel confident in a smile that looks attractive and functions naturally—and fits within your budget! If you don’t believe you can afford the dental treatment you need (or want), rest assured that we will try our best to help you afford the treatment you need. We have helped countless patients receive affordable dentistry, providing them with beautiful new smiles that have changed their quality of life.
Our team helps make our dental services affordable by assisting you in maximizing your insurance benefits and accepting a variety of payment methods.
Don’t let fear or embarrassment about your budget keep you from getting the dental treatments your smile deserves.
Contact our team today!
At Vogue Smiles Melbourne, we provide a wide range of general dentistry and cosmetic dental treatments including composite bonding, porcelain veneers, Invisalign, teeth whitening, Smile Rejuvenation, Anti-aging Dental facelift, Full Mouth Reconstruction and Aesthetic Rehabilitation , Snap on Smile, Same Day Smiles, Transitional or Intermediate Smiles and much more.
We are passionate about the positive impact that is possible with a great smile.
You deserve the confidence and positive self-image that comes with having a great smile.
To learn more and to schedule an appointment at Vogue Smiles Melbourne, please Call us now on 9629 7664 for your FREE COSMETIC CONSULTATION.
Find out more about cosmetic dentistry Treatment and Procedures
Visit Our Before & After Gallery to See Our Actual Patient Results
Read our PATIENT REVIEWS
Get in touch today to find out how we can help. MAKE AN ONLINE BOOKING
Disclaimer:
The information on this website is for information purposes only. Is not a substitute for a proper professional care and advice. Each patient’s outcomes, risks, potential complications, and recovery differ. Any dental procedure, minor or major, carries risks, some minor and some serious. Before and after images seen on our Social Media and website pages are our actual patient and have been published/posted with our patients’ permission. All of our patients photos are subject to Copyrights protection. We are strong believers in responsible aesthetics. Every cosmetic, medical, or dental procedure comes with its own set of risks and benefits. Cosmetic Dentistry results will vary from patient to patient. Call our office and book for an actual in-office consultation for us to assess if you are a good candidate for a particular treatment. All of our Specials and packages posted on this site are subject to terms, conditions and availability. The exact fee for a particular cosmetic procedure will be determined after a preliminary assessment distinguishing your unique personal needs and the type of work needed. The prices mentioned on any of our website as well as any mentioned payment plan by a third party source, are just a guide and is subject to change. Call the third party financing providers or visit their website for more info. Please call the office on 9629-7664 for further queries or clarification.
