How does dental cover work?
It’s not just dental nurses and nagging parents that think regular dental check-ups, cleaning and fast treatment for minor dental problems are important. All these things can stop more serious and expensive dental problems down the track. Even a simple dental check-up can be expensive, which can be reason enough to keep Aussies away from the dentist.
Having cheap dental insurance can be affordable, the question is how to choose the right dental cover from the right health insurer for the right price?
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* The price shown is per week and applies to a Single, aged 30, living in VIC. It excludes LHC loading and includes a Base Tier Government Rebate
| Extras services (when included on cover) |
|---|
| All extras benefits except as specified below. Waiting Period: 2 Months |
| Optical, home and domestic aids and medical aids. Waiting Period: 6 months |
| Major dental services (including full & partial dentures, orthodontics, crown & bridgework, endodontic services such as root canal, gold fillings, indirect restorations, surgical extractions of a tooth/teeth including wisdom teeth). Waiting Period: 12 Months |
| Health appliances including nebuliser pump, blood glucose monitor, pressure garments, sleep apnoea monitor, extremity pump, hearing aids, orthopaedic appliances (GMHBA approved), prostheses (GMHBA approved non-surgical), tens monitor, podiatry surgical procedures and orthotic appliances (foot). Waiting Period: 12 Months |
| Hospital services (when included on cover) |
|---|
| Accidents - bodily injuries resulting from accidents which occur after the date of joining GMHBA or upgrading to a higher cover. Waiting Period: No |
| Obstetrics and maternity. Waiting Period: 12 months |
| Pre-existing ailment, illness or condition (other than psychiatric, rehabilitation and palliative care). Waiting Period: 12 months |
| Any other benefit for hospital (or hospital substitution) treatment. Waiting Period: 2 months |
A pre-existing condition is one where signs or symptoms of your ailment, illness or condition, in the opinion of a medical practitioner appointed by GMHBA (not your own doctor), existed at any time during the six months preceding the day on which you purchased your hospital insurance or upgraded to a higher level of hospital cover and/or benefit entitlement.
A special waiting period applies to obtain benefits for hospital treatment for new members who have pre-existing conditions. The waiting period also applies to existing members who have recently upgraded their level of hospital cover. If the ailment, illness or condition is considered pre-existing:
New members
New members must wait 12 months for any hospital benefits (other than psychiatric, rehabilitation and palliative care).
Existing members (transferring or upgrading)
Members transferring/upgrading to a higher hospital cover must wait 12 months to get the higher hospital benefits (other than psychiatric, rehabilitation and palliative care).
Existing members (with at least 12 months membership)
Existing members with at least 12 months membership in total across their old and new cover are entitled to the lower benefits on their old cover.
Silver Hospital cover provides the same single room coverage as Gold Hospital, but co-payments of $100 per day up to a maximum of $700 per admission apply. Co-payments are not the same as hospital excess. Please note: Some private hospitals only have single rooms and co-payments will apply.
Co-payments do not apply.
Affordable dental cover with frank
Dentists. Probably one of the most feared of all health providers. It’s not just the gloved hand scraping your pearly whites or the awkward chat trying to keep your mouth open, but the eye watering cost long after you’ve rinsed with mouthwash that can leave a sour taste.
We all know the importance of regular check-ups to stop more serious (and potentially expensive) problems from arising, but even a simple treatment can sting the wallet.
Why should I take out extras with dental cover?
You can expect to have 1-2 dental check-ups each year. What you can’t predict is if you’ll walk away with a simple clean and check or if you’ll need something more to keep your smile healthy.
Extras health insurance can help take the financial pressure off each visit. If you take out extras that includes dental cover, we'll pay a benefit towards most treatments (as long as it's included in your policy and you have served all waiting periods), so you’re not stuck covering the whole bill.
If you’re the lucky sort that leaves the dentist with nothing more than a compliment on your flossing ability, dental cover is still for you. Our Basic Extras help reduce the cost of check-ups, and you might even be covered if something small pops up in the future.
What are the waiting periods for dental extras?
New to Health Insurance
If you’re new to health insurance or have had a gap in cover greater than 30 days, you can start claiming general dental after 2 months. If you need major dental and orthodontic treatments, these have a longer wait period of 12 months before you can start claiming these services (such as crowns, root canals, braces and wisdom teeth removal).
Switching between funds
If you switch from another fund, Frank will honour any waiting periods you’ve already served if you don't have a gap in cover of more than 30 days, provided you’ve taken out the same level of cover or lower with Frank. When switching, we will take into account claims that have already been made from your previous fund (as claim limits and lifetime limits will still apply, see limits below).
Upgrading your policy
If you upgrade your policy (either from another fund or with Frank), and your new policy includes higher limits (individual or annual) or new services you hadn’t previously been covered for (i.e., orthodontics), you will still need to complete the full waiting period before claiming those benefits (so if you upgraded to a policy which now covers orthodontics, you would have a wait period of 12 months before you can claim).
How does dental health insurance work?
Frank extras split dental treatments into three categories: General dental, major dental and orthodontic, each has its own claim limits (see below).
All our extras include general dental, which covers you for preventative services like check-ups, x-rays, cleanings, and basic fillings (which you can start claiming after 2 months).
As mentioned above, orthodontic treatments (such as braces) and major dental treatments (such as crowns, root canals) have a 12 month waiting period. If you think there is some major dental work in your future, it’s best to take cover out now.
If you want total peace of mind for all things dental, you might also want to consider hospital cover such as, Bronze Plus Hospital (Bronze +), which includes dental surgery in case of more complicated surgical removals (like the removal of impacted wisdom teeth in hospital). Remember, hospital cover requires a 12 month waiting period for pre-existing conditions, such as wisdom teeth removal.
What types of dental covers does Frank offer?
Don’t have the cash to splash on expensive health insurance? We’ve got you covered. Frank’s cheapest extras cover means you don’t need to break the bank to fight tooth decay.
As the adage goes, you get what you pay for, if you’re willing to pay a little more for your extras, you’re going to be covered for more treatments and services. You’ll also get a higher annual limit to spend on dental care with our more comprehensive extras covers.
We have affordable extras covers to suit any budget, so it’s up to you and your dental needs.
Get a quote.
What are the benefits of dental extras with Frank?
We get not everyone is obsessed with their teeth, they’re something most of us only think about whilst brushing, but healthy teeth make life easier as we age. Extras cover that includes dental helps you take care of your teeth in an affordable way that suits you.
Terrified of the dentist (sorry dentists) and want to choose your own? That’s fine by us if they’re a registered dentist we’re happy to support your choice.
If you’re open to trying somewhere new, we do offer Frank members 15-40%* off dental treatments with dentists registered with smile.com.au. Using a smile.com.au dentist is a great way to lower your out-of-pocket costs and make your limits go further.
*Savings may vary between dentists. It is recommended that members obtain a quote prior to treatment.
How do you choose the right level of extras for dental cover?
Here’s a breakdown of what you need to consider when deciding between basic and comprehensive extras.
- Considering your dental needs: think about the types of treatments you want to be covered for, how much you expect to spend on dental care each year, and the annual limits of the cover you’re considering.
- Other services you need: Let’s move on from dental for a moment. It’s also important to consider the other types of services you would like to be covered for and use in your everyday life, things like physio, chiro, remedial massage and optical.
- Budget: Simply put, finding the extras policy you can afford and will get value from.
Explore our covers to find the right match for you.
FAQs
Is dental insurance worth it?
That’s tricky to answer! Extras health insurance with dental might save you money, but it depends on the level of cover you choose and the dental work you require. Don’t forget extras include more than just dental. We recommend taking the time to find the cover that’s right for your budget and health needs.
How long do I have to wait before claiming?
You’ll need to wait 2 months before you can claim General Dental and 12 months before you can start claiming Major Dental or Orthodontics.
If you switch from another fund, Frank will honour any waiting periods you’ve already served if you don't have a gap in cover of more than 30 days, provided you’ve taken out the same level of cover or lower with Frank. When switching, we will take into account claims that have already been made from your previous fund (as claim limits and lifetime limits will still apply, see limits below).
On the other hand, if you’re new to health insurance or have had a gap in cover greater than 30 days, you can start claiming general dental after 2 months. If you need major dental and orthodontic treatments, these have a longer wait period of 12 months before you can start claiming these services (such as crowns, root canals and braces).
Is dental covered by Medicare?
For the most part, no. Dental procedures are usually paid in full by the individual/patient. However, depending on the state or territory, some children and adults are eligible for public dental care and, like the public hospital system, are placed on a waiting list for treatment. Learn more.
How much will I get back for my dental procedure?
The amount you get back will depend on your product and level of cover. If you’re planning a dental procedure, please call our customer service team to ensure you’re covered and get an estimate on your refund, or you can use estimate my refund within the member area.
What are the types of limits on a Frank extras policy?
Person limit – The total amount you can claim on a service within a year.
Couple/ family / membership limit – The maximum amount a couple or family can claim in a calendar year.
Sublimit – The total amount you can claim on a particular service or treatment within the overall annual limit.
Lifetime limit – specific to orthodontics, the maximum amount that can be claimed in a lifetime.
For further information on dental rules, learn more.
How does orthodontics work?
You need to wait 12 months before you can start claiming orthodontics with us unless you’re transferring from another fund and have already served your orthodontic waiting periods.
Depending on your cover, the amount you receive back could be a set amount or staggered by years (i.e. you’ll progressively get more back depending on how many years you remain on that level of cover up to 5 years) and there is an overall lifetime limit (a set amount applies for orthodontic services if more than one course of treatment is required), that travels with you even if you switch funds. See your fact sheet for further information. Learn more.
Where can I learn more about Frank?
As a not-for-profit online health fund, delivering affordable health cover and great customer service is what Frank does best. With a friendly customer service team based in Geelong, you can learn more about us here.
How do I switch to frank?
When you switch your health insurance to Frank, we do the transfer of cover for you. Simply give us the details of your old provider and we’ll handle the rest. Learn more about how to get started here.
Get one month free* when you join on combined cover by January 15*
*For new members who have not been a member during the last 12 months, joining on combined hospital and extras cover, paying by direct debit. Must pay first month to receive one month free. Offer only available via Frank website or phone joins. Not available with any other offer or Frank OVHC. Offer ends 15 January 2025.
