Travel Insurance Benefit 3 - Overseas Emergency Dental

Overseas Emergency Dental benefits can save your bank account hundreds of dollars, keeping you smiling all throughout your holiday! 

One of the best things about going on a holiday is flashing those pearly whites on camera! Whether it’s a food selfie or a face selfie there are so many great things about your teeth that is easily taken for granted when travelling. There are all kinds of things that can occur when you travel but there are few pain points that surpass the feeling of a broken tooth, filling loss or needing emergency root canal treatment. This pain is not only unbearable but can grind your travel plans to a halt.

Fast Cover Emergency Medical Dental covers the cost of overseas emergency dental treatment. This means that you can be covered for the dental costs incurred which the treating dentist certifies in writing is for the relief of sudden and acute pain to sound and natural teeth .

Please bear in mind that not all travel insurance companies cover dental in their standard policies, or the cover may be limited. Overseas Emergency Medical Dental does not cover you for all dental procedures that may incur during your trip that is not directly related to accidental injury.

What can go wrong with your natural teeth?

Dental emergencies can pop up at any time during your trip.

• Your fillings can come loose because you’ve bitten into something hard
• You may fall over while walking down and accidentally break your teeth
• You may get a tooth infection needing root canal treatment
• You may accidentally injure your teeth while participating in an activity while on a cruise
• You are in the middle of a natural disaster area such as wind, excessive rain, hail or any other severe weather and you injure yourself and cause pain to your teeth

Do you have a Dental checklist ready for your trip:

• There are a few preventative measures you can take to elevate some of your dental worries while you are travelling overseas:

  • Make sure you visit your dentist well BEFORE you leave for your trip. This is to give yourself plenty of time if there are any concerns that need addressing. If there are any Pre-existing Medical Conditions, it may be better to cancel your holiday, or to make necessary arrangements to cater for that Pre-existing Medical Condition. This will also help if you need any prescriptions for your dental condition.
  • If you have dentures, implants, crowns, bridges or any other orthodontic devices, it would be a good idea to get them structurally checked to make sure they are not deteriorating! This can save you thousands of dollars if you are caught up with a dental emergency while you are travelling, as travel insurance will not cover you if you experience a complication related to any damage to these.
  • Be mindful of what you will be doing when you travel. If you know you will be doing extreme sports or any other risky activities make sure you are also taking into account any dental injuries that might occur due to these activities. Being mindful of the possible impacts your activities may have on your teeth is research worth looking into. You should also check whether the activities you are participating in are covered by your policy. If the activity is not covered and you experience a dental emergency as a result of the activity, your claim may be denied.
  • Be country-specific when you research your travel insurance options. Water is scarce in some areas of the world and not worth digesting due to pollution. Always buy bottled water if possible or if not, make sure you boil (at least 1 - 3 minutes) with water. To clean your toothbrush, we suggest soaking it in a cup of boiling water with some added salt to it. This can help with avoiding any nasty infections and costly dental bills that can occur from polluted water. 

What about Wisdom teeth:

If your wisdom teeth are causing you problems before you travel this would be considered a Pre-existing Medical Condition, which means you would NOT be covered for or have provision to claim for it.

On the flip side, if you are not aware of any issues with your wisdom teeth and you unexpectedly have a dental problem resulting in acute pain while overseas, there is cover under the Overseas Emergency Dental benefit for you.

Our Dental benefits?

The Overseas Emergency Dental benefit amount you can claim for is solely dependent on what policy you purchase:

• The Comprehensive, Snow Sports Plus and Frequent Traveller Saver - up to $1000.
• The Standard Saver - up to $750
• Basics policy - up to $500
• The cost of replacing dentures is limited to $500.

What should I do if something happens?

• Go to registered and licensed dentist for the emergency dental treatment you need and pay the dental bills yourself. Make sure that you get the documentation from the dentist confirming the work that has been done and also the receipt for payment of their services.
• If you are unsure, call our Emergency Assistance Team for advice on your dental condition or if you need directions to the nearest or most suitable dentist.
• Put in a claim with your supporting documentation (this is for overseas emergency dental expenses only).

If you will be travelling to undergo Dental work:

Though many consumers choose to travel to Europe or Asia for overseas dental procedures, this is not always the best choice. Should anything go awry, your travel insurance policy does not cover you for any complications stemming from the dental work you have undergone. Please note there is no cover for any planned medical procedure, including dental.

If you are in any doubt of what you are covered for, the best method would be to contact us before you leave or our 24/7 Emergency Medical Assistance team while overseas who will be able to advise you on the best course of action to take. 

What the Overseas Emergency Dental benefit does not cover:

• For planned medical procedures, cosmetic treatments, or other non-emergency medical treatments or for any complications or other claims arising from such procedures or treatments.
• For damage to dental prostheses, bridges or crowns.
• For dental treatment involving the use of precious metals.
• For any costs after 2 weeks of treatment by a dentist unless approved by us.
• For any costs incurred in Australia.
• For dental treatment which can wait until you return home from your trip
• Anything related to a pre-existing medical condition
• For more than the applicable limits set out in the Benefit Summary outlined in our PDS.

What is important to remember is that Overseas Emergency Dental only covers you for your NATURAL teeth. It is best to read the policy and PDS carefully as most policies won’t cover for loss of or damaged crowns, dentures, dental bridges, braces or crowns. Our policies do not cover for the deterioration or decay of your teeth or any preventative dental treatment.

Alternative assistance

• Nominate someone on your policy who can can help you in times of need like a family member or trusted friend
• Contact family and friends in Australia
• Contact the local embassy or DFAT