Advertorial Tips for finding dental insurance in Thailand

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Tips for finding dental insurance in Thailand

 

 

We all understand how important medical insurance can be. However, dental insurance is also essential given the high cost of quality dental treatment in the Land of Smiles. Although there is a vast array of dental insurance options on the market, it can be a daunting task to cherry-pick the best plan for your requirements, given the difference in deductibles, premiums, and coverages of different plans.

 

Our friends at Pacific Prime Thailand are here to offer some practical tips on securing the perfect dental insurance plan.

 

What do dental costs look like in Thailand in 2020?

The following prices are estimates for dental care and cosmetic dentistry in Thailand at leading clinics:

 

Clinic	Crowns	Root Canals	Dental Implants	Braces
BIDC	THB ฿10-20,000	THB ฿ 9-15,000	THB ฿ 30-60,000	THB ฿ 60-195,000
Truth Dental Clinic	THB ฿ 8,200-20,200	THB ฿ 8,200-18,200	THB ฿ 45-85,000	THB ฿ 45-215,000
PMDC Dental	THB ฿ 16-18,000	THB ฿ 9-13,000	THB ฿ 80,000	THB ฿ 85-180,000
Chulalongkorn University Dental Hospital	THB ฿ 8-16,000	THB ฿ 5-8,000	THB ฿ 70,000	THB ฿ 52-160,000

 

What exactly does dental insurance cover?

Dental insurance is almost impossible to find as a standalone policy in Thailand. Should you require dental benefits, your only option is to find a medical insurance plan and include dental care as an add-on benefit. 

 

Currently, there are two forms of dental insurance cover in Thailand, namely:

 

• Routine dental treatment, which typically covers:
  • Routine teeth cleaning
  • Fillings
  • Root canals
  • Consultations
  • X-rays
  • Emergency dental care

 

• Major dental treatment, which typically covers:
  • Orthodontic treatment (e.g. braces)
  • Wisdom tooth removal
  • Gingivitis treatment
  • Root scaling
  • Bridgework
  • Periodontitis treatment

 

Naturally, since routine dental treatment plans only cover basic care and less costly treatment, the premium of routine dental treatment plans is lower than its major dental treatment counterpart.

 

What should you pay attention to when choosing dental insurance?

As with other forms of insurance, there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all plan in dental insurance. Hence, it is crucial that you take the following factors into account before you make your purchase decision:

 

Waiting periods

Waiting periods, a.k.a moratorium, is the duration the policyholder has to wait before they can lodge a claim to the insurer. This is set up to prevent the policyholder from abusing the plan. For dental insurance plans, the waiting period is usually between 6 and 12 months.

 

Pay and claim later

‘Pay-and-claim’ is very common in Thailand, and means that the policyholder has to pay for the treatment by themselves before lodging a claim to the insurer. However, some insurers have their provider network of medical facilities, which support direct billing. In other words, all you have to do is to show your medical card at the clinic and the insurer will take care of the bill for you. If you prefer a direct billing arrangement, it’s best that you check with your insurer to ensure it is possible before you secure the plan.

 

Orthodontics

Orthodontic treatment, such as braces for teens, usually comes with a copay. Copay means that the policyholder will also have to bear part of the cost. This is a way for insurers to control the cost due to the high price tag attached to orthodontics care.

 

Cosmetic dental treatment

As in how other cosmetic surgeries are not covered by medical insurance, cosmetic dental treatment including Invisalign is usually not covered by dental plans. Having said that, each insurance plan is unique so it’s best if you check with your insurance agent to confirm the exact term details.

 

How should you find dental insurance in Thailand?

Now that you have learned more about dental insurance and its common benefits, the next step is to start hunting for the perfect plan! The best way to do this is to work with a reliable broker like Pacific Prime Thailand. 

 

Whether you’re looking for expat health insurance, family health insurance, or travel insurance, Pacific Prime can help you select a plan with dental coverage that suits your budget and requirements. We also offer a whole multitude of value-added services, including claims and renewals support, at the same price as if you went directly to the insurer. Contact Pacific Prime Thailand for a free quote and plan comparison today.