It is only natural to look for a comprehensive health policy that will provide you with coverage for dental & vision insurance. But you are not sure whether they fall under the coverage of health policies or not.
This article will help you find an answer to this question and provide you with a better understanding of dental and vision coverage and limitations under health insurance policies.
What Do Vision and Dental Insurance Cover?
Typically, a health insurance policy may not offer dental & vision insurance cover together. These are two separate policy coverages that cater to dental and eye-related treatments, respectively.
Generally, dental insurance covers expenses related to:
- Routine check-ups
- Root canal treatments
- Extractions
- Fillings
- X-rays
- Preventive treatment
Vision or eye insurance generally covers medical expenses related to:
- Eye examinations
- Cost of cataract surgeries
- Consultation fees of the doctor
- Lasik surgeries
- Routine check-ups
If you are looking for an all-round financial coverage for special treatments at affordable premiums, you can consider investing in the Reliance Health Gain Insurance or similar policies. These policies protect you financially when your medical treatment requires hospitalisation for over 24 hours.
Limited Coverage for Dental and Vision Care in Health Insurance
As mentioned earlier, eye and dental treatment coverage in health policy varies from one insurer to another. There are insurance companies that provide comprehensive dental and eye insurance plans, including major procedures like braces and canals in dental treatment and cataract and LASIK surgeries in treatment for the eyes.
However, most insurers either provide basic coverage for these treatments under preventive health check-ups or include them under OPD or Outpatient Department coverage in their health policies. Coverage for complex surgeries and procedures related to vision or dental care is not provided under these policies.
Moreover, some policies have a waiting period for coverage for dental and ophthalmic treatments. Again, coverage for oral and ophthalmic treatments may include sub-limits, which means you will receive a limited reimbursement for your treatment option.
Therefore, you have to review each policy carefully before you come to a decision.
Dental and Eye Care Health Insurance – Specific Situations
There are, however, specific situations in which insurers provide financial coverage for oral and ophthalmic treatments. The following are some instances where dental and vision care can be financially covered under general health policy.
- Since your teeth and eyes are parts of your body, in case of an accident, your health policy will provide financial protection for the treatment of these parts, if required.
- Certain insurers provide coverage for vision and dental treatments if they fall under critical illness insurance, provided you have opted for such a health policy from them.
- Dental and vision-related consultations and check-ups are provided under preventive health check-ups, which are part of most general health policies.
Conclusion
Reviewing your policy options, in terms of the overall sum insured, waiting period, inclusions and exclusions, etc., is the key to knowing whether or not the kind of dental, vision and health insurance you want is being offered by insurers of your choice. Moreover, add-on riders like preventive health check-ups and OPD coverage are available if you are looking for basic coverage for your eyes and teeth.
So, choose a health policy only after you are sure of what coverage you want in terms of dental and vision care.
