Why has Dencover been created? To provide both dentists and patients with a comprehensive, workable insurance scheme that enables dentists to give their patients the quality of treatment that is required, confident in the knowledge that their patients are eligible to recover a significant proportion of the cost from the insurer.
Who benefits? Both the dentist and the patient. The dentist can provide regular, necessary care and the specific treatments and materials that are required. The patient is encouraged to visit twice a year and receives the attention and treatment when they need it at a cost they can afford. They can also trade up on materials to suit their needs and budget.
Do patients have to undergo a thorough dental examination before being accepted by Dencover? No. Dencover allows for self-certification. Before acceptance, the patient must certify that at the time of application, to the best of their knowledge, they have visited a dentist within the past 12 months and do not require any treatment for existing conditions. This is common practice in the vast majority of health-related insurance policies.
Is routine care covered? Yes. The aim of the policy is to promote dental health and provide cover for all essential treatments after the initial period of three months.Therefore, two routine examinations (plus x-rays where necessary) and two hygienist visits per year may be claimed by each patient (within policy limits).
Is private and NHS treatment covered? Yes. Dencover applies to both private and NHS work. In fact, the policy covers 100% of NHS work, up to the number of treatment limits in any policy year.
Why is there an initial three-month period where only check-ups and accidental or emergency dental claims may be made? On acceptance to the scheme, patients have certified that they have no existing conditions that require treatment, therefore no claims other than those resulting from an accident or an emergency will be accepted for this initial three-month period.
Will the claims procedure involve me or my staff in any administrative process? No. You simply provide the patient with an itemised receipt in the normal way. The patient then calls the Dencover claims line and we will take care of the process. Claims are normally settled within 7 days.
Who is eligible for Dencover? All UK residents up the age of 65. Unlike most other schemes, they may remain in the plan until the age of 80 if they are a policyholder by the age of 65.
Does Dencover cover families? Yes. In addition to the single policy we have a policy for couples, single parent families with up to 4 children and dual parent families with up to 4 children. Children are covered up to the age of 21 provided they are in full-time education.
How much does a Dencover policy cost? Single cover is £15.99 a month, for couples £29.99 a month, single parent families with up to 4 children £28.99 a month and dual parent families with up to 4 children £44.99 a month.
How secure is Dencover? Dencover insurance is underwritten and fully managed by Pinnacle Insurance Plc, one of the largest specialist insurers in the UK. Pinnacle Insurance Plc is regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) and covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. Therefore, Dencover is totally secure and meets the highest standards demanded by the industry regulator.
As a dentist, can I host Dencover literature in my practice for the benefit of my patients? Yes. FSA regulations permit this but do not allow dentists to advise individual patients on any specific insurance scheme. This applies to all 'capitation-based' schemes, which include even the smallest element of insurance cover (see section on FSA and dentists for more information)
