6 Reasons Why Expats Should Buy Dental Insurance
Going to the dentist and getting dental work done is expensive. It is especially true when you have a dental emergency or need to get major work done. If your company does not provide you with dental coverage, you would have to purchase it on your own.
According to an American Dental Hygienists Association report, almost 75% of American adults have gum diseases that they are unaware of. For good oral health, you must have a dental insurance plan in place for you and your family.
Maintaining oral health is of prime importance. Timely checkups and cleaning sessions can save you from a lot of potential medical issues as you grow older. This is where dental insurance can come to your aid. Undoubtedly, it is worth the investment.
Here are six reasons why you should opt for dental insurance as an expat:
Prevention is Always Better than Cure
Through preventive dental care, you can get your teeth checked through an experienced dentist at regular intervals. There can be cavities in the teeth, and you need a good dentist to do the necessary procedures. This is especially crucial for smokers or people with pre-existing issues. A dentist can thoroughly examine your mouth and teeth before suggesting any preventive medication.
If you are moving abroad with family and children, you should opt for dental insurance along with a global health insurance policy. When it comes to oral health, taking necessary steps proactively for the prevention of any dental issue is crucial so that dental care expenses are ultimately reduced.
Dental Issues Can Hamper Productivity
As per various reports of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, each year, employees across the country lose over 164 million work hours due to dental issues. Sick leaves would mean that productive hours are lost which ultimately can impact the business growth of companies. Companies may also fail to meet customer expectations if employees don’t turn up for regular office work.
Dental Insurance can Help in Controlling Expenses
People usually avoid going to dentists because of financial issues. However, it is important to understand that dental care expenses are increasing at a rapid pace globally. Hence, expats should buy dental insurance as it saves money. A decent dental insurance plan helps in covering various primary dental care expenses.
The insurance would cover 80% of the fees for basic procedures like fillings and root canals and up to 50% of the expenses on crowns, bridges, and major dental procedures. This implies that opting for a dental insurance plan can help you save a lot of your hard-earned money.
Helps in Evaluating Overall Health
While checking your oral health, the dentist would also be able to review and evaluate your overall physical health. Detection of any existing health-related issue early will help you in controlling various expenses that you may have to deal with if the situation gets worse. Systematic ailments like diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and osteoporosis are usually accompanied by various symptoms of oral health issues.
Boosts Children’s Academic Performance
Another reason why expats should buy dental insurance is to ensure your child’s growth and academic performance are not hampered. According to some Pew Center reports, one-fifth of the total healthcare expenses of American school-going children are used for their dental care. Tooth decay is much more common in kids than asthma or hay fever, but dental care is usually ignored in most families even today. It is seen that children with oral health issues struggle to concentrate on academic activities and studies and they eventually fail to achieve the desired results.
According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, it is estimated that over 50 million school hours are lost due to dental problems of school students. This is where you need to act proactively and choose dental insurance that is best for your family and kids.
Dental Insurance Offers Easy Access to Private Dental Care
Expats should buy dental insurance to ensure you and your family get quick and easy access to dentists during an emergency. If you are an expat in a country that offers a public dental healthcare system, you may still prefer to go for private dental care. Apart from escaping the long queues or waiting time associated with public healthcare, you will get adequate support from English-speaking healthcare professionals working in private hospitals and clinics. You just need to choose an international health insurance policy that offers dental coverage as well. A private dental care facility will ensure that you get the advanced treatment on time apart from standard routine check-ups.