If you receive universal credit, you may also qualify for help with health costs. Recipients of Universal Credit and other benefits are entitled to free dental care, if they meet certain criteria.
Dentistry
in the UK is not free and can be expensive. Certain benefits and exemptions can automatically entitle you to help with NHS health costs.If you receive Universal Credit (UC), you will only receive free dental treatment if your income falls below certain limits during the most recent evaluation period. Keep in mind that your treatment will last longer and they will likely only accept it if your complaint is relatively routine. You can request a refund if you had to pay for dental treatment while your entitlement was being verified, as long as you are entitled to free dental treatment at UC. If you have an HC3 for partial help with health costs, you can also get help with the cost of NHS dental treatment.
Most urgent treatments are completed in one appointment, but your dentist may recommend that you schedule another appointment for additional, non-urgent treatment. NHS dental treatment in the UK is only free if you are under 18, under 19 and are studying full time, pregnant or have had a baby in the past 12 months. It covers everything in Band 1, plus additional treatments such as fillings, root canal treatments and extractions. If you have dental problems physically and emotionally but don't have the funds to pay for treatment, try contacting oral health charities, such as Dentaid and the Oral Health Foundation, to see if they can offer help paying for dental treatment.
Yes, buying dental insurance or private health insurance means paying a fixed monthly or annual premium, but if you're prone to dental problems, any expensive private dental treatment plan will be covered by your insurer and could make more financial sense in the long run. Contact universities that offer dentistry as a degree, such as King's College London, Newcastle and Glasgow, and ask about the opportunity to receive free dental care. Paying for dental treatment can be expensive and, in the case of emergency dental work, unplanned, but the good news is that you can ask for help. Be sure to carefully review the wording of the policy, as many insurance policies limit the amount they pay for dental treatment.
Now, with many more in need of treatment and without the possibility of getting affordable care, this is your guide to paying for dental treatment in the UK. If you are between 16 and 20 years old and live in a household where someone responsible for you receives universal credit or has a low income, you may be able to get help with travel expenses. NHS patients only pay £550 million of the £2.25 billion the NHS spends on dental treatment each year, according to the Oral Health Foundation.
