Dental Insurance Trends: Who Is and Isn’t Covered?

The British dental industry is always changing, and the British government is currently making moves towards reforming the field. One area that is seeing particular changes is the dental insurance sector. Modern dental insurance trends show that more people than ever are taking out a policy, instead of paying for their appointments as and when they’re needed.

Dental insurance can help you to spread the cost of your treatment, making it a worthwhile option for many people – if they can afford it. However, it’s important to understand what is and isn’t covered, especially when it comes to dental negligence claims. If you’re considering taking out coverage but are new to the world of medical insurance, you’ll likely have some questions to ask before getting started.

In this blog, we’ll teach you all about who is and isn’t usually covered by dental insurance, also providing some useful statistics to help you with your decision.

If you already have an insurance plan and think you may have faced dental negligence whilst, under your policy, you may instead want to open a dental claim against your dentist. If this is the case, please contact our team at 0800 152 2044 or start your claim here.

The Growing Popularity of Dental Insurance

In recent years, the dental insurance sector in the United Kingdom has undergone significant transformations. Access to NHS dentistry has become more and more challenging, with long waits for dental treatment and the cost of private dental care rising greatly in recent years.

These factors mean that understanding current dental insurance trends is crucial, as it may help you to work out whether an insurance policy might be best for your situation.

Dental Insurance Trends: What Is and Isn’t Covered

If you’re considering taking out a dental insurance plan, it’s important that you understand what they cover. Every policy is different, so we would recommend checking with the specific providers you’re considering to see what they cover. However, most coverage falls into one of the following categories:

• Preventive care: Most dental insurance plans cover aspects of preventive care, including routine check-ups and basic cleanings, encouraging regular dental visits.
• Basic procedures: Fillings, tooth extractions and other basic dental procedures are typically covered under these policies.
• Major procedures: Coverage for major procedures like crowns, bridges, and dentures varies significantly – some policies may cover a percentage of the cost, while others may exclude certain treatments.
• Cosmetic dentistry: Procedures deemed to be cosmetic dentistry (such as teeth whitening treatments or veneer procedures) are often not covered by standard dental insurance plans.
• Orthodontics: Coverage for orthodontic treatments (such as adult braces) is typically limited by most policies, and may be subject to age restrictions.

It’s important to conduct your own research before committing to a plan or provider, as every policy is different.

Market Growth Projections

The UK dental insurance market is currently on an upward trajectory, and is set to continue rising for many years into the future.

According to Laing Buisson, the dental insurance market has grown steadily year on year since 2007, crossing the £1 billion point in 2023. Dental capitation plans have also grown significantly in recent years, reaching 2.67 million individuals in the UK in 2023 (which was a rise of 342,000 people from the previous year).

This growth reflects an increasing recognition of the importance of oral health and a greater willingness among British individuals to invest in dental coverage.

The Rise in Private Dental Insurance: Common Trends and Patterns

The demand for private dental insurance in the UK has seen a notable increase over the past few years. Private dental insurance is currently at a record high, with approximately 3.8 million individuals covered by private dental plans or insurance in 2022 (up from 3.2 million in 2019).

The Guardian also reported last year that the private health insurance market as a whole grew by £385 million in a single year, showing the true financial cost of the NHS shortage.

This growth can be attributed to several different factors, including:

• Limited access to NHS dentists: There is a current shortage of NHS dentists, meaning that many individuals are turning to private surgeries to ensure timely care. Find out more about how to find an NHS dentist in our guide.
• Employer-sponsored insurance plans: An increasing number of employers are now starting to offer dental insurance as part of their benefits packages. This is a positive step forward, as it shows that workplaces are starting to recognise the importance of oral health in overall employee well-being.
• Preventive care awareness: There’s a growing understanding that regular dental check-ups can prevent more severe health issues like oral cancer or gum disease from developing. This means that more people are seeking out coverage that supports preventive care.

The Financial Barriers to Dental Care

Despite this very prominent rise in private dental insurance, a significant portion of the British population still faces financial obstacles when attempting to access necessary dental services. In 2023, The Dentist reported that 21% of employees (which is the equivalent of 6.3 million working-age individuals) avoided dental appointments due to cost concerns.

This trend has been exacerbated by the following factors:

• • Cost-of-living pressures: The cost-of-living crisis has been an economic challenge that has led many people to prioritise essential expenses (such as rent, food and utility bills) over dental care.
  • Rising dental fees: In April 2024, NHS dental charges in England increased by 4%, which likely further deterred some individuals from seeking necessary treatments

• A lack of NHS dentists: New patients are increasingly finding it harder to register at new NHS practices, with a lot of dental surgeries only accepting private patients. This has led to many people not bothering to seek out regular dental check-ups or treatment, due to the cost of going private.

Demographic Disparities in Coverage

Almost one in eight people living in the UK now have private medical insurance, with the British dental insurance market currently worth more than £1 billion per year. Interestingly, dental insurance coverage varies depending on different demographic groups:

• Age ranges: Younger people (particularly those under the age of 30) are less likely to have dental insurance when compared with older age groups.
• Income levels: People with higher incomes are more likely to have private dental insurance, as they have more money available to pay for it. On the other hand, lower-income groups rely more heavily on NHS services, with some people forgoing dental care altogether.
• Geographical variations: People living in urban areas tend to have higher rates of dental insurance coverage when compared to rural regions (where dental services can be more limited).

An adult oral health survey carried out by the government in 2021 provides in-depth information about the barriers to accessing adequate dental care. One interesting point the survey found was that urban areas tend to have higher rates of dental insurance provided by an employer, with 11% of Londoners receiving this employee perk at the time.

It’s clear that employers can play a pivotal role in providing private dental insurance to the workforce, with many companies now integrating insurance plans into their employee benefits packages.

Insurance Trends Regarding Preventive Care

Prevention is often better than cure, which is why preventive care is so important for your oral health. Preventive care is a key part of your overall wellbeing, enabling patients to reduce the risk of being diagnosed with certain health conditions later in life. Undergoing regular dental check-ups helps to detect oral health issues early and can contribute to much better oral health outcomes in the future.

There is some evidence to suggest that individuals with dental insurance are more likely to engage in preventive care. According to the Denplan Oral Health Survey 2024, 90% of people with a dental insurance plan visit the dentist at least once every two years for a regular check-up. Only 70% of patients without coverage visit the dentist this often for a check-up, showing that having dental insurance can encourage people to actively seek out preventive care.

The Future of Dental Insurance Trends: Our Recommendations

So, what does the future of the dental insurance market look like? It’s difficult to accurately state what will happen in the future, but it’s clear that the dental insurance world is poised for continued growth. Here are our predictions:

• Digital innovations: With new tools and AI technology arising in recent years, we predict that new digital platforms will be adopted to make it easier for customers to process claims from their plans.
• Customisable plans: We also predict that many insurers will start to offer flexible plans that are tailored to the individual needs of the patient. We’ve already seen this in action somewhat, encouraging broader adoption of dental insurance.
• A preventive focus: Preventive care is an important aspect of dental insurance plans that can lead to much better oral health outcomes and cost savings in the long term. We predict that preventive care will become a mainstay of most policies.

From these dental insurance trends, it’s clear that the dental insurance market is poised for continued expansion in the future. Factors such as the rising cost of dental treatments, the lack of NHS dentists and an increasing awareness of the benefits of preventive care seem to be driving this growth.

Stay tuned for more information on dental insurance trends from the Dental Law Partnership. In the meantime, if you’d like to discuss a dental negligence claim with a member of our team, we’ll be happy to help. Please contact us here or request a callback at your earliest convenience.