There's a lot to think about when choosing the best dental insurance for you and your family. With so many providers and policy options available, it's easy to get overwhelmed. Simplyhealth dental insurance makes it easy to compare different levels of cover according to your budget and requirements.
In this article you'll find details of Simplyhealth's dental plans so you can make a more informed decision about your cover.
About Simplyhealth
Simplyhealth provides health and dental insurance to millions of Brits across the UK. Administered by AXA PPP Healthcare, Simplyhealth also owns dental payment plan company Denplan.
The company itself is under 10 years old but was formed in 2009 from the merger of several organisations, some with roots dating back to the 19th century.
Simplyhealth places a strong emphasis on corporate giving, with 10% of its profits donated each year. That amounted to £0.9 million in 2018 given to help health and social care projects in the UK.
Simplyhealth dental insurance plans
Simplyhealth offers four levels of dental insurance cover. These all cover you for private dental care with your choice of dentist. Even the cheapest plan provides a comprehensive range of coverage, from accident & emergency to mouth cancer to worldwide cover.
The worldwide cover applies to treatment needed following an accident or emergency overseas. It's limited to a total trip duration of 28 days per year, though.
The amount reimbursed varies according to the type of treatment received. A routine checkup, for example, gets 100% reimbursement, while for a filling or crown the policy pays 50% of the cost. For each type of treatment there is an annual maximum amount paid.
The higher the premium you choose, the greater the maximum amount that will be reimbursed each year for various treatments. You can view full details in the table further down this article.
It's easy for you to insure your children for private dental care too; up to four children can be added to your policy for one fixed price. Although children receive free NHS dental care, parents may appreciate this extra layer of reassurance.
Waiting times
As soon as you take out your policy you can claim for costs relating to dental checkups and cleanings. All other treatments and benefits are subject to a three month waiting period.
Policy exclusions
Simplyhealth's policies, like many dental insurers, exclude any work that is not clinically necessary, i.e. cosmetic dentistry. This includes:
- Veneers
- Teeth whitening
- Dental implants
- Orthodontic work
However there may be some provision to replace veneers and dental crowns fitted to implants if they are damaged in an accident covered by the policy.
If you haven't had a dental checkup within two years of the policy start date, you will have to pay the full cost of any treatment identified as necessary at your first checkup. On the other hand, if you have had a checkup in the past two years, your policy won't cover any work that was recommended, planned or started before your policy or during the first three months.
This means that you can't turn up with your teeth in a terrible state and expect the insurer to pay for all the work you've been putting off for years.
Simplyhealth's dental accident cover allows you to claim for work done up to 30 days after the incident. This is a more generous allowance than some other policies but you should still be aware of this deadline.
Price comparison
Here are the main benefits provided by the different levels of dental insurance from Simplyhealth. Percentages stated are the percentage of the total cost that will be reimbursed, up to the annual limits.
Level | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
Monthly cost per adult | £9.55 | £15.92 | £22.56 | £28.87 |
Cost to add up to 4 children under 18 | £3.52 | £6.93 | £10.52 | £14.15 |
Checkups (including x-rays) | 100% up to £45 | 100% up to £75 | 100% up to £105 | 100% up to £135 |
Scale and polish | 75% up to £35 | 75% up to £65 | 75% up to £95 | 75% up to £125 |
Dental treatment (fillings, root canals, crowns, bridges, extractions, etc.) | 50% up to £200 | 50% up to £400 (max £200 for bridges, crowns, inlays and onlays) | 50% up to £600 (max £300 for bridges, crowns, inlays and onlays) | 50% up to £800 (max £400 for bridges, crowns, inlays and onlays) |
Dental accident cover | 100% up to £5,000 | 100% up to £5,000 | 100% up to £5,000 | 100% up to £5,000 |
Dental emergencies | 100% up to £500 | 100% up to £500 | 100% up to £500 | 100% up to £500 |
Hospital cover | £50 per day/night, max 20 days | £50 per day/night, max 20 days | £50 per day/night, max 20 days | £50 per day/night, max 20 days |
Mouth cancer cover | £5,000 | £5,000 | £5,000 | £5,000 |
All information correct as of March 2022. | ||||
Each of the limits applies per person per year, except for mouth cancer cover which is a one-off payment. Since all prices are fixed, you can easily buy online without having to get a personalised quote directly from the insurer.
Things to remember
If you already see a private dentist, you probably have a good idea of what they charge and therefore what level of cover you need. Is it worth paying a higher premium to have access to more generous reimbursement limits? This may depend on the current condition of your teeth and the kinds of dental treatment you're likely to need in the future.
If you're not sure that Simplyhealth dental insurance is the right one for you, you can compare other UK dental plans. Remember to always read the full policy details so you understand exactly what you are and are not covered for.