Bupa provides members with affordable tooth pain relief

Bupa provides members with affordable tooth pain relief | Insurance Business Australia

Life & Health

Bupa provides members with affordable tooth pain relief

Initiative expects eligible members to collectively save millions of dollars

Life & Health

By
Roxanne Libatique

Bupa Health Insurance has claimed to be the first in Australia to provide eligible members with affordable dental fillings as part of its Members First Ultimate initiative, collectively saving millions of dollars in dental costs.

From Nov. 1, Bupa members with eligible Extras cover who attend certain Bupa Dental clinics will receive a no-gap experience across 15 common dental services, including twice-yearly checkups, x-rays, and fitted mouthguards across its national network of 148 practices.

The move aims to provide Australians with financial relief as they face household budget challenges while encouraging preventative dental care.

“We’re always looking at ways to help our members get more value from their private health insurance, and we expect this will be a welcome offer, especially given the ongoing cost of living climate,” said Bupa managing director Chris Carroll. “As a healthcare partner, our focus is on supporting the health and wellbeing of our members, and I’m pleased we’re able to increase member access to gap-free experiences.”

Dental cost statistics

Research by the Australian Dental Association revealed that one in three Australian adults and one in nine children have untreated tooth decay.

Bupa expects the initiative to save members money with the average cost of a general dental filling costing $220 in 2022, according to the ADA.

“By focusing on prevention and breaking down cost barriers, our aim is to help people maintain optimal oral health which we know is closely linked to general health,” said Bupa dental care managing director Dr Ros Blakley. “A visit to the dentist means a whole lot more than a simple clean and a search for cavities. We can also look for signs of oral cancer, oral infections and a range of other conditions that can have a significant impact on your health if not addressed early.”

Bupa members who have access to Members First or Members First Platinum providers will still have access to benefits including gap-free dental for eligible kids and certainty of out-of-pocket expenses for most dental services.