How to find dental insurance with no waiting period

Medicare generally doesn’t cover dental treatment for Australian adults, which means if you don’t have dental insurance you will likely have to pay the full cost of any dental treatments you need out of your pocket. 

The good news is that Compare Club may be able to help you find dental insurance with no waiting period to keep the cost of dental treatments down.

No waiting period dental cover: Costs

Dental care can be expensive. However, dental cover with no waiting period can make it easier to afford the dental treatments you need, when you need them.

Health funds generally offer dental cover as part of an extras policy. The amount you’ll pay in premiums for an extras policy varies widely depending on the level of cover and the insurer. That’s why it’s vital to compare policies# to find the right level of dental cover for your needs and budget. 

The amount you can claim for a dental treatment also differs between policies and treatments. For example, some policies may cover the full fee for a regular dental check-up, but may only cover part of the fee for more complex dental work.  

For example, the average cost of a full dental crown was $1,560 in 2020-21, and the average health insurance rebate was $674. That leaves an average gap payment of $870. 

It’s also worth noting that some health insurers operate their own dental clinics, or partner with preferred clinics. These clinics may offer cheaper dental treatment rates to their policyholders, which will help to keep your out-of-pocket expenses down.  

No waiting period dental cover: What is covered by Medicare?

Unfortunately, Medicare generally does not cover any of the cost of dental treatments for Australian adults. 

In some cases, children may be eligible for some Medicare coverage for standard dental services under the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS).

However, to qualify for the CDBS, your family typically needs to be receiving other government benefits. 

So if you do not receive government benefits or do not have private dental health insurance, you’ll likely need to cover the full cost of any dental treatments you need out of your own pocket.  

No waiting period dental cover: Private health benefits

Depending on the terms of your policy, dental insurance may cover some or all of the cost of routine dental check-ups, and part of the fee for major dental treatments. 

Typically, you can expect many health insurers to cover an average of about 50 to 60 percent of the fees charged by your dentist. 

Pay out limits for particular dental treatments also tend to vary between policies and insurers. 

Consider talking to the experts at Compare Club# to help find dental cover with no waiting period that includes the treatments you’re most likely to need. 

Typical Waiting periods

Most health funds impose waiting periods on dental benefits when you sign up for a new extras policy. Depending on the insurer and the particular dental treatment, waiting periods can range from two months up to about 12 months. 

However, from time to time some health funds offer dental cover with no waiting period as special promotions for new customers. And if you switch your existing policy to an equivalent or lower level of cover with a new health fund, they may choose to waive the waiting periods (typically for waiting periods between 2 & 6 months)

Or take the easy route and let the experts at Compare Club  help find a great value dental cover for you#.

State-based costs and differences

The cost of health insurance can vary between states. For example, Compare Club discovered that Victorians pay up to 25 percent more for health insurance than some other states, and Western Australia has some of the lowest health insurance rates in the country. 

 However, it’s important to remember that the cost of health insurance varies widely between insurers and policies within states too. So doing regular market comparisons is the best way to make sure you’re not overpaying for health insurance in your state.

Key terms

• Gap payments: The out-of-pocket expenses that you may need to pay when the cost of a dental service exceeds the amount covered by your insurance. 

• Waiting periods: The specified duration during which you must wait after purchasing a health insurance policy before being eligible to claim certain benefits. Waiting periods often vary for different treatments.

• Extras policy: Also known as ancillary or general treatment cover, it provides coverage for non-hospital related services such as dental, optical, physiotherapy, and other ancillary healthcare services.

Frequently asked questions

Is dental cover included in my health insurance policy? 

That depends on your policy. Dental treatments are typically not covered under general hospital insurance. You’ll need an extras policy that includes dental treatments.

Can I get dental cover with no waiting period? 

Most health funds do apply waiting periods for dental treatments. However, they sometimes offer to waive the waiting periods as special promotions for new customers. 

Additional resources

• Learn more about the cost of dental care in Australia

• .Find out if you live in a state with high health insurance premiums.  

Sources

Why private dental health insurance is worth the money, news.com.au

Cost of dental care, healthdirect

The Australian state paying the highest health insurance premiums, YourLifeChoices

*Compare Club compares selected products from a panel of trusted insurers. We do not compare all products in the market. This guide is opinion only and should not be taken as medical or financial advice. Check with a financial professional before making any decisions.

Chris Stanley is the sales & operations manager of health insurance at Compare Club. With extensive experience and expertise, Chris is a trusted leader known for his deep understanding of health insurance markets, policies, and coverage options. As the sales & operations manager of health insurance, Chris leads a team of dedicated professionals committed to helping individuals and families make informed decisions about their health insurance needs.

Meet our health insurance expert, Chris Stanley

Chris's top health insurance tips

• 1

  Australia’s public health system is world-class, but wait times for public hospitals can be long, inconvenient - and leave you living in constant pain while you wait.

• 2

  An appropriate private health insurance policy can speed up your surgery, relieving your pain sooner.

• 3

  Family health cover means your children are covered under the same policy as you.

• 4

  Many health insurance policies come with a 12-month waiting period for pregnancy-related cover, so it’s a good idea to get a family policy organized well before starting your family. This means your child will be covered from birth until at least their early twenties (depending on which health fund you select).