Health Insurance for Dental Procedures and Cosmetic Treatments

Did you know your smile is like a first impression on your face? It can show people you are happy, feeling good, and confident. However, that sparkling smile requires more than brushing your teeth twice daily. Routine check-ups and, at times, procedures (dental or cosmetic) are equally important. Let’s explore these procedures and how they affect dental insurance in India.

What are dental procedures?

Dental procedures include treatments that help maintain good oral health. These procedures can be –

• Preventive care (including regular check-ups, cleanings, or X-rays) for identifying issues early on and addressing them
• Restorative treatments (including fillings, root canals, or crowns) to repair damaged teeth and restore their functions
• Surgical procedures (including tooth extractions or wisdom tooth removal) for more complex issues

Cosmetic procedures: What and why?

Dental treatments maintain your oral health. Meanwhile, cosmetic procedures help you feel more confident and make your smile and teeth appear better. They don’t particularly target any underlying dental issues. Be it discolouration, misalignment, or missing teeth, these treatments help! 

These procedures, which fall under the purview of cosmetic dentistry, are optional and not medically necessary. As such, you must consider the dental cosmetic surgery prices in India. They depend on the process, surgeon’s experience, and location.

Does all health insurance cover dental and cosmetic treatments?

Now, about insurance.

Health insurance (or a mediclaim policy) does not cover cosmetic or dental treatments. An exception will be made when they are medically necessary or prescribed by the doctor.

The good news? Take advantage of the health insurance benefits with an add-on dental rider (or OPD coverage)! You need to purchase it along with your base health plans at an additional premium. It covers particular dental procedures like fillings, root canals, or extractions. However, you need to consider the policy limits and waiting periods.

In this case, a comparison of health plans to explore options for coverage and exclusions becomes necessary.

What treatments are generally excluded from health insurance in India?

Some standard exclusions for dental procedures under health insurance in India include:

• Cosmetic surgeries like veneers or teeth whitening
• Dentures and implants
• Jaw alignment procedures
• Orthodontics (braces and retainers)
• Prosthetic replacements for missing teeth

Things to remember when buying dental insurance in India

When buying dental insurance in India:

• Make sure your policy has sufficient coverage for essential procedures like root canals.
• Read the fine print to check inclusions for preventive care and routine check-ups.
• Review the policy’s health insurance exclusions to understand what procedures are not covered.
• Compare plans to find one that suits your needs (in-patient vs. OPD coverage).
• Verify the waiting period.
• Consider the sum insured to ensure it is sufficient for dental treatments.
• Pick an insurance provider with a vast hospital network for cashless treatment.

Key takeaways

Good oral hygiene habits make your smile genuine, healthy, and beautiful! But if you have any issues with your teeth, dental procedures can restore and preserve your oral health and cosmetic procedures can augment the appearance of your teeth and smile. Since health insurance excludes most dental procedures, understanding their differences becomes necessary to make informed decisions.

To enjoy health insurance benefits, consider getting separate dental insurance to keep your smile healthy and bright! PhonePe offers a user-friendly platform to help you choose the best health insurance plan for you.