Emergency Dental Expenses: Planning Ahead Before an Emergency
From 2019 to 2020, dental expenditure as a lump sum in Australia was about $9.5 billion but only 51% of males and 54% of females in the country have private health insurance that covers dental. Most of the time, dental care isn’t paid for by the government, and the charges are mainly handled by the individual.
Emergency Dental: What’s the Actual Cost?
No one can help it when they crack a tooth, lose a crown or a filling, or have an unexpected toothache. Unfortunately, no one can help the cost of having these things treated either. If you need an emergency root canal, you can expect to pay anywhere from $900 to $1100. If you need an extraction performed, you will still take a financial hit of $200 to even $600 that you didn’t plan for.
Other dental surgeries can cost up to $2,130 or more. These are large sums of money that many people may not be able to cover right away so you may ask yourself, how much will my health insurance cover, assuming you have an active policy.
How Much Does Insurance Help?
In Australia, there is no government assistance for dental coverage. In some cases, Medicare can help you cover costs for eligible children or adults but this is only for essential services. Most of the time, things like oral exams or cleanings and most things associated with general dental care will be covered up to 60% to 70%.
For things like having a tooth crowned, this procedure could cost $1500 or more. Insurance may cover up to 60% of the procedure cost, but you are still going to pay around $600 out of your pocket.
The good news is that insurance does take a lot of the financial weight off of many dental expenses but not every Aussie has this luxury. So, what are the best ways to prepare for potential dental emergencies without straining your wallet?
The Best Ways to Handle Emergency Dental Needs
If you want to reduce the costs of your dental care you can do things like;
- Invest in a plan through work
- Open a dental savings plan
- Look into community health options
- Start an emergency dental fund
One of the more popular options, for people with and without an insurance policy, is to have a savings plan or emergency fund specifically for dental care. The thing is, with or without insurance, you will still pay a sum out of your pocket in many cases.
On average, Aussies owe around $3,841 in credit card expenses. This doesn’t include how much the average person has in general personal debt that doesn’t include credit cards. Instead of using credit lines, financing options, or paying expenses directly from your own pocket, you may be wondering what else you could do when you need emergency dental. The thing is, it’s easier than you think.
