Dental insurance in New Zealand: Benefits and options

How much you’ll pay for dental treatments without insurance

Dental treatments and oral surgeries can quickly become expensive without insurance. Below are price estimates for some typical dental procedures and devices in New Zealand, giving you an idea of what you might pay out of pocket.

Best health and dental insurance options in New Zealand

Dental insurance is available via two main options: adding dental cover to a comprehensive health insurance plan or opting for an everyday plan. Both have unique features and benefits, cover other medical treatments in addition to dental, and cater to different levels of care and budget.

Comprehensive health insurance with dental cover add-ons

Comprehensive health insurance plans provide in-depth cover for many medical services. Some plans include oral surgeries in private hospitals, such as the surgical removal of impacted or unerupted teeth, as part of the standard cover. For routine dental care, such as check-ups, fillings, and X-rays, an optional dental cover add-on can also be included in the plan.

Benefits

• Extensive cover beyond dental: These plans provide a wide range of health benefits, not just for dental care but also to cover major surgical costs, hospitalisations, specialist consultations, cancer care, and other treatments. For instance, the best plans can cover hospital surgical and cancer care costs of up to $500,000 (or even higher).
• Skip long wait times: Comprehensive health insurance lets you bypass the long wait times associated with New Zealand’s public healthcare system, ensuring timely access to dental care, surgeries, and other major medical treatments.
• Enjoy loyalty benefits: Some dental add-ons have loyalty benefits, providing cover for treatments such as orthodontics after a few years of continuous cover.

Limitations

1. Pre-existing conditions: Most plans impose certain restrictions on pre-existing conditions or exclude them.
2. Benefit caps and out-of-pocket costs: There’s a cap on the amount covered each policy/claims year for dental care. While insurers typically cover most (75-80%) of the cost, you still need to pay for a portion, plus any expenses above your benefit limit for the year.
3. Waiting periods: Dental add-ons may have waiting periods or stand-down periods during which you cannot make a claim.

The table below looks at comprehensive health insurance dental add-ons from some of New Zealand’s best insurers.

Everyday health plans

Everyday health plans are a more budget-friendly option focusing on routine and day-to-day medical procedures, including some dental. This often includes:

• Dental check-ups
• Cleaning and scaling
• Tooth removal
• Fillings
• X-rays.

Some plans go further by covering more complex services, like root canals, and orthodontic treatments, such as braces.

Limitations of everyday cover

1. Most everyday plans cover only a percentage of the dental procedure costs, leaving you to pay the remaining amount yourself.
2. These plans also have annual dental benefit limits, so funding expenses beyond this maximum amount will be up to you.
3. Waiting periods typically apply, during which you cannot file claims.
4. Moreover, should you need hospital treatment, everyday plans cannot cover private surgeries and other expensive medical expenses.

Other dental care payment options

While dental insurance is a great way to manage your dental costs, it's not the only option. If you don’t qualify for free dental services, and you’re on the fence about adding dental care to your insurance portfolio, there are other ways to help cover the expense of dental treatments.

ACC (Accident Compensation Corporation)

ACC may help cover a portion of your dental costs if your treatment is due to an accident, a sporting injury, or a complication arising from a medical or dental procedure performed by a registered dentist.

Buy now, pay later options from dental clinics

Many dental practices in New Zealand are affiliated with ‘buy now, pay later’ services, allowing you to spread the cost of treatment over several weeks or months. This option can be particularly helpful for those needing immediate or high-cost care (such as braces) but lacking upfront funds. However, please read the terms and conditions carefully to avoid unexpected fees if payments are missed.

Payment plans

Some dental practices offer their own payment plans, giving you the flexibility to pay off your treatment costs over a set period. You can talk to your dentist about their payment options and see if they offer a plan that suits your needs.

WINZ dental benefits

The New Zealand government, through Work and Income NZ (WINZ), offers financial assistance to eligible individuals for urgent dental treatment. This support is primarily for low-income earners and those receiving government benefits.

RECOMMENDED READINGS

Dental prices in New Zealand

Comparing health insurance plans: 2025 buying guide and quotes

Long waiting lists in NZ's public health system: Causes and impacts on patients

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