Denplan

Cash plan

Another way of protecting yourself is with a cash plan. Cash plans pay on demand to cover a range of treatments. These can work out to be cheaper than dental insurance policies, however the maximum amount of cash they are willing to pay out each year may be considerably lower. HealthSure provides dental cash plans and covers things like check-ups, fillings (white and standard), crowns (standard and porcelain), and some other more complex treatments. They also offer non-dental benefits such as cash towards costs like acupuncture, health screening and hospital benefits.Things to look out for
When opening an insurance plan, always read the small print. Terms and conditions vary from one provider to the next and a policy with low premiums may have upper limits for what they’ll pay in a year. Some procedures may not be included in the plan and what’s considered ‘routine’ could vary considerably from one provider to the next. This is why it is important to read the company’s definition of ‘emergencies’, ‘injuries’ ‘serious problems’ and ‘routine’ so you know exactly what you are covered for. The insurer, Universal Provident, for example charges £5.95 per month on their cheapest policy with up to £1000 cover per year. However, this is according to their allocation-scheme: only two fillings are covered per year, at £20 each, two dentures at £125 each, and two crowns at £175 each. Excluded are routine dental examinations and pre-existing conditions.