MISBLOC: Dental Insurance
An educational article regarding dental health
MISBLOC (Medical Information Service with Blockchain) is a medical service ecosystem which is based on blockchain technology. MISBLOC offers a sustainable and efficient medical service ecosystem by providing reliable medical information to patients, medical institutions, and public institutions in the Big Data era.
Hi there! Along with the listing event of MSB on Bithumb Korea, we would like to continue providing you with educational posts. Let’s learn more about dental insurance and its coverage.
Do you know that our teeth, unlike other parts of the body, do not regenerate? They become weaker with age. In the past, people in their 50s often suffered from tooth problems, but nowadays, more and more people in their 20s and 30s complain of tooth pain due to poor eating, drinking, and smoking habits. Unfortunately, many people postpone dental treatment as much as possible. According to National Health Statistics, about 35.9% of the reasons for delaying dental treatment are correlated with the economic status of the patients. This is because only 36% of the procedures at general hospitals are covered, while most of the dental expenses are not covered and cannot be replaced by actual insurance. The burden for patients is usually 84% of the total expense.
Dental Insurance
Dental insurance is used to cover the cost of dental prosthetics or treatment for diseases or injuries such as tooth decay and gum disease. However, it is essential to make sure that the insurance company covers treatments that individuals actually need before they sign up.
1. Diagnostic vs. Non-Diagnostic Insurance
- Diagnostic Type: Patients can sign up for this insurance after being diagnosed with various dental conditions and passing an exam. You can guarantee it right after signing up, there is no limit to the number of guarantees, and dental treatment due to injury is also guaranteed. However, insurance premiums are higher as well.
- Non-Diagnostic Type: Insurance that can easily be registered online or by phone without a prior diagnosis and can be guaranteed after approximately 90 days (depending on the insurance company). In addition, there is a reduction period of one to two years, and only a portion of the treatments are covered during this period. For this reason, premiums and coverage should be calculated in case you are diagnosed with something and require treatment during the reduction period.
2. Non-Renewal Type vs. Renewal Type
- Renewable: The premium is very cheap in the beginning, but might continue to increase in the future due to changes in the coverage of the contract during the subscription period.
- Non-Renewable: The initial premium is expensive, but you can pay the same amount at maturity and maintain the same premium.
3. Check the insurance company’s coverage details and special contract conditions
The guarantees are divided into prosthetic and conservation treatments. Prosthetic treatments include dentures and implants, and preservation treatments include cavities, resins, and crowns. In addition, gum disease, permanent tooth decay, and teeth cleaning are covered by insurance, so the coverage is relatively wide.
As the number of dental insurance holders increases, special arrangements are also being diversified. As there are a variety of guarantees to choose from, you must compare and check directly with your dental insurance.
4. Other Notes
Generally, dental insurance coverage ranges from age 5 to 75, and most of them are renewed with a 5 to 10-year maturity coverage. In the case of children’s dental insurance, it is a good idea to choose an insurance that has better coverage for preservation treatment than prosthetic treatment since cavities occur more frequently at that age. The age of subscription is usually set at 0 to 4, so it is important to look carefully through the dental insurance comparison sheet and not miss the right time to sign up. In addition, it should be noted that most dental insurance does not cover wisdom tooth removal, cosmetic treatments, treatments for implants and prosthetics that have already been treated, or dental restoration.
