Does VHI plus 1 plan cover dental?

elshem

Following an appointment with my dentist this morning I phoned VHI to see if they can cover extraction of 4 impacted wisdom teeth but the lines were busy and they wont call me back for up to 72hrs :rolleyes: Tried to find the information online but Im coming up with nothing.

Myself and my children are covered by the VHI plus 1 plan since March(switched from Quinn).My dentist wont do the extractions and is sending me to a dental surgeon who said it will cost €650-690 as well as €120 for sedation.I understand the sedation is not covered but just wanted to see if anyone here knows if the extractions would be?

Thanks in advance.

Oral Surgeon

elshem wrote: »

Following an appointment with my dentist this morning I phoned VHI to see if they can cover extraction of 4 impacted wisdom teeth but the lines were busy and they wont call me back for up to 72hrs :rolleyes: Tried to find the information online but Im coming up with nothing.

Myself and my children are covered by the VHI plus 1 plan since March(switched from Quinn).My dentist wont do the extractions and is sending me to a dental surgeon who said it will cost €650-690 as well as €120 for sedation.I understand the sedation is not covered but just wanted to see if anyone here knows if the extractions would be?

Thanks in advance.

Does it cover dental- no

Does it cover wisdom teeth removal- it depends...
All these "regular" medical insurace plans cover the same things. They will all cover the removal of impacted or unerupted teeth, this is important as regular dental exractions are not covered. Where the insurance plans differ is in how the treatment is provided (ie are you covered to have the job done in a clinic under local anaesthetic or in a public hospital or in a private hospital with general anaesthetic) this depends on the plan and on the specific clinic, hospital, oral surgeon and anaesthetist....
Confused??

First, see an oral surgeon who is fully participating with your insurance company, that way you pay consultaion only and not a procedure top up fee.
Generally, private hospitals have a top up fee, my opinion is that oral surgery under GA is not necessary in the majority of cases.
If your treatment is done in an oral surgeons clinic under IV sed the should be little or no additional cost bar the initial consultation.

Good luck,
OS

elshem

Thanks for that OS,confusing yes but helpful too
I am hopeful now that they will cover the extractions as they are impacted.I phoned the clinic and they said the dentist is pre exempt? and that they are 99% sure I would be covered but gave me the codes to check with the VHI.

At the ripe old age of 32 I have also got 2 baby incisors that will probably have to come out but Im trying to pretend that isn't true :eek:

lexa

OS, is it generally much more expensive to go with a part participating rather than fully participating oral surgeon?
Is there a list of fully participating oral surgeons? I couldn’t find one on VHI’s website.
Thanks

Oral Surgeon

lexa wrote: »

OS, is it generally much more expensive to go with a part participating rather than fully participating oral surgeon?
Is there a list of fully participating oral surgeons? I couldn’t find one on VHI’s website.
Thanks

It is more expensive as the OS will get a lesser rate from the medical insurance company and will then ask you the patient to pay the difference or more likely more than the difference. It gives the surgeon the freedom to charge the patient a top up of her/her own choice. How much more expensive is up to the individual clinician but more than you would pay with a fully participating surgeon......

The medical insurers are usually slow to give out information on clinicians, why I don't really know... Maybe they don't want to be seen to be making recommendations...