Understanding Your Dental Insurance Coverage in Thailand
Dental coverage is one of the optional riders expats can add to their insurance plans. With routine dental and major dental as the common benefits you will see in your policies, it is best expats familiarize themselves with these benefits to fully understand their dental coverage in Thailand.
In this article, Pacific Prime provides a simple guide to different types of dental insurance coverage and how expats can find the right insurance for their stay in Thailand.
Expat Dental Insurance Coverage in Thailand
Dental coverage is usually available as an optional rider expats can add to their health insurance plans. Some insurers may offer dental as an independent rider expats can add individually to their plans or may require existing outpatient coverage before a dental rider can be added.
When considering your dental rider, expats will usually find these two benefits: routine dental and major dental treatments. They involve different kinds of treatments and understanding these benefits will help you have a clearer picture of how your policy can cover you.
Routine Dental Treatments
Routine dental treatments involve preventive care and early detection of common dental issues to ensure long-term oral health.
Routine dental treatments coverage can include:
- Routine teeth cleaning
- Dental checkups
- Consultations
- Simple fillings
- Tooth extraction
- Root canals
- X-rays
- Emergency operations
Major Dental Treatment
Major dental treatments involve restorative or surgical treatments to treat severe dental issues such as complex gum diseases, tooth decay, or damaged teeth.
Major dental treatment coverage can include:
- Tooth Adjustment
- Periodontitis Treatment
- Gingivitis Treatment
- Bridgework and Repairs
- Temporary Crowns, Porcelain Crowns and Gold Jackets
- Membrane Treatment
- Root Scaling
- Orthodontic Treatment
Emergency Dental Treatment
Emergency dental treatment coverage is usually meant to provide emergency restorative care or relieve pain should your teeth be damaged in an accident. They do not cover your routine dental care or other dental or oral conditions.
While routine and major dental treatments are usually covered under a dental rider, some health policies may offer built-in emergency dental treatment coverage without an additional dental plan or rider required.
This emergency coverage may not always be available, and expats should carefully review their policy’s fine print to see what is covered and whether they will need an additional dental rider or plan to get their dental coverage.
What to Consider When Choosing Your Dental Insurance
When considering a dental rider for your health policy in Thailand, there are a few things you should take note of, chiefly: the coverage, the waiting period, and the billing process. These are some of the key things you should review to ensure seamless dental care in Thailand.
Your Coverage
Look not only at what procedures your policy will cover but how much it will cover, such as annual limits, applicable deductible or copayments, and coverage levels for different kinds of treatments.
While some insurers may provide a flat reimbursement rate for all kinds of treatments, some may apply lower coverage for major restorative care compared to routine and minor restorative care. Thoroughly reviewing your coverage will ensure you get the protection you need.
Your Waiting Period
Your dental coverage may come with a waiting period. Any dental treatment you receive during this period will not be covered by your insurance. A waiting period can range from 3 months to 12 months depending on the procedures.
Major restorative and orthodontic treatments usually come with a longer waiting period that can range from 6 to 12 months before the coverage kicks in. Therefore, it is recommended to start your insurance shopping sooner rather than later.
Your Billing Process
Insurers with an extensive provider network can offer direct billing service that allows you to receive cashless healthcare experience in Thailand. Your insurer will settle the bill directly with your dentist, meaning you don’t have to pay out-of-pocket except for applicable copays.
If your dentist is not within your insurer’s network, it is best to check your reimbursement process with your insurer beforehand. You will likely need to hand in an insurance form with your dentist’s signature and the official receipt for your reimbursement process.
Find the Right Dental Insurance in Thailand
Dental coverage is easy to overlook in your health insurance plan, but with the right guidance, expats can tailor their insurance coverage to best suit their needs and budgets.
Pacific Prime offers personalized insurance service for expats and visitors to Thailand. Whether you’re on a short trip to Thailand or relocating to Thailand as your new forever home, our expert advisors are ready to assist you in securing the right plan for your stay.
Contact Pacific Prime today for tailored insurance advice and plan comparison.
Coming to Pacific Prime, she is ready to utilize her experience for the new pursuit. With a strong passion for storytelling and writing, she hopes her words could help bring people closer to the best international health insurance plan that works for them. After all, as a writer, there is no greater honor than when one’s words can add clarity to the world of the readers.
Apart from writing, she is an avid planespotter. On the weekends, you can expect to find her loitering around the airport, gawking at all the aircrafts taking off and landing. When the weather does not permit planespotting, you can find her huddling on her cozy couch, watching ballet and figure skating as well.
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