Dental insurance for the young and healthy: What you need to know

The market for dental insurance in Australia is booming.
The latest numbers from the Australian Dental Association show the number of Australians covered by dental insurance rose by 2.2 per cent to a record-breaking 13.5 million people.
The number of people covered by a private health insurer rose by 4.6 per cent.
While the number covered by public dental insurance has remained stable over the past two years, the number has jumped by more than 20 per cent over the same period.
What you really need to do to find out moreRead moreIn total, the total number of covered people in the Australian dental market rose by about 5 million people in 2017.
However, the average number of dental visits covered by people aged 18 to 64 rose by 3.5 per cent in the same year.
Dental insurance is available to almost half of Australians, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
And the most popular health insurance option is a private insurance plan that pays out a lump sum to the insured and reimburses the insured for the cost of their care.
But the average price of dental insurance is higher than what is paid by public health insurers.
According to the Dental Insurance Institute of Australia, the cheapest dental insurance plans cost between $10,000 and $60,000.
But if you need more coverage, you may need to spend more money.
The Institute of Public Health estimates that a single person covered by private health insurance will pay around $300 to $800 for a visit.
If you’re an adult who has a high risk of a dental injury, a private dental insurance plan can cover up to $100,000, the Institute of Private Health Insurance says.
Private dental insurance, which is available in all states and territories, has been in decline since the introduction of the Medicare levy in April 2017.
In 2016, private dental insurers paid out $8.3 billion in premiums.
In a statement to the ABC, the Commonwealth Health Insurance Corporation said the premium increases were due to a number of factors, including the introduction, and implementation of the Health Insurance Amendment (Maternity) Act, 2016.
But a spokesman said the insurer was committed to working with the private sector to make the market more affordable for all Australians.
“As we’ve noted before, while there are a number other benefits to having a private policy, the cost to the taxpayer of covering the cost can be substantial,” the spokesman said.
“So as we look at the issue of rising premiums, we are looking at how we can make the most of existing enrolments and encourage additional private coverage for older Australians.”
The new insurance policy for people aged 60 and over is $250 a month, and for people over 60 it is $300.
“This means people who have dental conditions can choose a policy that provides a significant amount of coverage, with minimal out-of-pocket costs, as long as they are aged 60 years and over,” the statement said.
“For example, a policy with a maximum of $250 would cover up for up to eight out- of-pocket visits, and up to three visits over a four-month period.”
In 2018, a new private dental policy for young adults is due to be rolled out for the first time in Queensland.
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