What Is Business Dental Insurance | Corporate Dental Plans

Business dental insurance helps companies cover their team members for preventative and restorative dental treatments, tests and procedures. It’s considered an employee benefit that may improve your staff's wellbeing and help retain them.

Business dental insurance policies vary from provider to provider and per business. You'll have a choice over some aspects of your policy, while your policy provider will define others. This insight aims to cover the topic so that you understand whether business dental insurance is the right choice for you, what to expect, and what next steps you need to take.

‍What does a business dental insurance policy cover?

Every business dental insurance policy is unique, and the terms will depend on your choices and what's on offer from the various UK providers. As an example, some providers will offer varying levels of cover. The higher the level of coverage, the higher the limits and/or benefits are covered within your policy.

“Business dental insurance is a way for companies to provide a direct benefit that helps their employees with their oral health”

We’ve listed some examples of what may be covered and excluded below, but as every policy is different, we recommend that you contact us to understand this in more detail.

Preventative treatment

Routine examinations
Virtual routine examinations
Teeth scale and polishes
X-rays
Scans
Worldwide cover

Restorative treatment

Clinically necessary treatment
Specialist consultations
Treatment recommended prior to coverage
Sedation
Mouthguards
Treatment as a result of damage caused by food
Worldwide cover

Orthodontic treatment

Clinically necessary treatment
Speclialist consultations
International cover

Emergency treatment

Treatment for severe pain
Treatment if you’re unable to eat
Treatment for conditions that pose a health threat
Prescription charges
Emergency call out fees

Injury treatment

Treatment for an injury that happens unexpectedly
Treatment required as a result of sport if you’re wearing a mouthguard provided by a dental professional
Worldwide cover

Oral cancer treatment

Cancer diagnosis
Primary cancer treatment
Restorative treatment needed as a result of oral cancer treatment
UK cover

Discounts

As part of the policy, employees may receive discounts on dental treatments from centres approved by the provider. This discount would apply to treatments that take place outside of the policy cover.

What are some common exclusions?

Similarly to benefits, what’s not covered under your policy will depend on who your provider is, the policy level and more. There are some common exclusions that you may find across several of the options available, such as:

Cosmetic treatment that isn’t medically necessary
Implants and bridges to correct pre-existing gaps
Dental consumables, such as brushes, paste, mouthwash and floss
Replacement dentures that have been lost or stolen
Treatments needed as a result of a physical contact sport if you weren’t wearing a mouthguard provided and fitted by a dental professional
Treatments that don’t start with an initial consultation
Treatment for injuries that occurred or existed before the policy
Treatment required as a result of self injury
Treatment required due to mouth jewellery
Treatment for conditions that existed prior to policy cover
Costs and expenses related to experimental or unproven treatments
Treatments that cost more than the policy limit

Dental policy limits explained

Your policy may have limits on the treatments you can receive. This means that you're covered for treatments up to an agreed amount. For example, this may be up to £100 for a routine examination visit per employee. Any charges above this limit won't be covered.

As an example, we've listed some of the limits Bupa places on their various plan levels. Each limit is per employee per policy year.

Routine examinations

Level 1 - £60, maximum £30 per visit.
Level 2 - £80, maximum £40 per visit.
Level 3 - £120, maximum £60 per visit.
Level 4 - £140, maximum £70 per visit.
Level 5 - £200, maximum £100 visit.

Scale and polish

Level 1 - £80, maximum £40 per visit.
Level 2 - £100, maximum £50 per visit.
Level 3 - £160, maximum £80 per visit.
Level 4 - £180, maximum £90 per visit.
Level 5 - £250, maximum £125 per visit.

Dental x-rays and scans

Level 1 - £40
Level 2 - £50
Level 3 - £80
Level 4 - £90
Level 5 - £100

Orthodontic treatment

Level 1 - £300
Level 2 - £400
Level 3 - £500
Level 4 - £600
Level 5 - £700

Dental injury treatment

Up to £5,000 per policy year

‍Please note: The figures presented are correct as of 12/6/23 and may change at any time

How do claims work for your employees?

The claims process will vary per provider, where your employees receive treatment, and whether they’re covered for the treatment they’re claiming for. We’ve listed some example scenarios below:‍

Instant claim - If an employee receives treatment covered within your policy at a pre-approved centre, they may be able to claim instantly. There's nothing to pay upfront, and the costs will be handled between the provider and your insurance company.
Reimbursement - If an employee receives treatment covered within your policy, but they’re using a facility that isn’t pre-approved, you may need to pay the cost upfront and claim reimbursement afterwards.
Claim not covered - If an employee receives treatment that isn't covered, the insurance provider will not cover any of their costs.
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Claim exceeds policy limit - If an employee receives treatment covered by your policy, but the total cost exceeds the policy limit, they’ll be liable for any expense that exceeds the limit.

Why should your business consider dental insurance?

Business dental insurance offers benefits for businesses and their employees in varying ways. Some examples of how it may benefit your company include:‍

Tax benefit and savings - UK dental insurance may be deductable from pre tax profits as a business expense.
Improve the health of employees - Proving any form of healthcare may help improve your workforce's health and wellbeing, improving their quality of life and reducing the chance of them being unwell.
Forms part of a benefits package - Employee benefits may offer businesses a way to retain their staff, attract valuable employees and keep their staff satisfied. We’ve covered this in more detail in our insight What are employee benefits?
Control over what the cover is, and who’s covered - You have total control and flexibility over how the policy looks, who’s covered and any future changes. If you purchase a policy through us, we’ll also allocate you a dedicated account manager to help you throughout the lifetime of your policy.
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Reduce sickness - If dental insurance improves the oral health of your staff, it may help to reduce sicknesses and absences that would otherwise occur.
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Financial protection - With 90% of NHS dentists not accepting new patients, the need for private dental treatment is increasing. This represents a direct cost for your employees, so by providing cover though your company, you may be able to reduce their financial burden.‍

Compare corporate dental plans

Comparing your options will help you to better understand the differences between providers, policy levels, and what's available for your business. However, comparing policies yourself may be time-consuming or difficult if you're unfamiliar with the industry.

Our dental comparison service offers a simplified way to understand your options, and our team will aim to answer all of your questions and find the most appropriate policy based on your business's unique needs, size and budget. Just complete the form below, and we'll be in touch. Some of the benefits of this service include:

Free, unbiased advice
Compare policies across a range of providers
Tailored to your needs and business size
No obligation to purchase
Dedicated account manager
Support with claims where needed

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