
Get exclusive healthy living offers and guides
Straight to your inbox
We’re reader-supported and may be paid when you visit links to partner sites. We don’t compare all products in the market, but we’re working on it!
More and more health funds have heard your pleas and are offering extras policies with "no gap dental", a special dental benefit where you can visit any participating dentist and pay zero out-of-pocket for checkups, cleanings, x-rays, fluoride treatments and sometimes even mouthguards.
But first, you'll need to find a fund that offers this fantastic benefit. Lucky for you, we've already done the work.
Below are some options from Finder Partners that have a no gap check up option.
*Quotes are based on single individual with less than $90,000 income and living in Sydney.
No-gap dental is a type of dental cover where your insurer agrees to pay 100% of the cost for certain dental treatments if you use a dentist in their network.
The way most dental policies work is that your insurer will agree to pay a specific percentage of the cost toward treatments covered by your policy. For example, your policy might pay 60% toward dental work whether it's something simple like a cleaning or something more complex like a root canal.
You're responsible for the additional 40%, and this out-of-pocket expense is called your gap.
If your policy includes no-gap dental, your 40% contribution will be waived - leaving you will nothing left to pay. But again, it's only for certain treatments and it's only available if you use a dentist in your insurer's network.
No-gap dental schemes focus on preventative procedures so that insurers don't have to shell out the big bucks for expensive procedures down the track.
Even if your overall dental policy covers more complex treatments like root canals, crowns and implants, they won't be part of the "no-gap" scheme and you'll have to pay the gap on those treatments.
To take advantage of your insurer's no-gap dental benefit, you have to follow a few guidelines. Each insurer will have a similar set of guidelines, but they can differ in the details.
Generally speaking, here's how to avoid your dental gap:
You can only claim a certain number of times per year. Most insurers will limit the number of times you can claim for certain treatments. For example, you might be limited to only one or two "no-gap" check-ups and cleans per year.
No two no gap policies are the same, so you'll want to keep the following in mind
If you need treatment above and beyond what's covered by your no-gap policy, you'll still get the no-gap treatments covered at 100%. However, you will have to pay the gap for the additional treatments or pay for the entire cost of those treatments if your policy doesn't cover them.
Let's say you visit an in-network dentist for a check-up and a clean but during the visit, the dentist notices a cavity that can only be filled with a complex filling. Most no-gap policies will cover the check-up and clean at 100%, but will not cover the complex filling.
You'll walk out of the dentist's office paying nothing for the check-up and clean but you will have to pay something for the filling. If your policy covers complex fillings, you'll pay the gap after the insurer pays their share (often around 60%). If it doesn't cover complex fillings, you'll pay 100% for that treatment and that treatment alone.
No-gap dental benefits can certainly make a dental policy more attractive. However, before you choose a policy based on this feature alone, it pays to make sure it is right for you. Here's what to look out for:
Still comparing? Here are a few more option from Finder partners:
Health fund | What services are covered? | Apply |
---|---|---|
![]() |
| Go to Site |
![]() |
| Go to Site |
![]() |
| |
![]() |
| More info |
![]() |
| More info |
![]() |
| More info |
Simply enter your details below to compare Australian health funds side by side. Don't forget to filter by dental.
Picture: Shutterstock
Oral B’s smarter electric toothbrush provides an exceptional cleaning experience, but its price point will put it out of the reach of many.
Extras cover is the number one drawcard for Australians who take out private health cover, new research from Finder, Australia’s most visited comparison site, reveals.
Here's a rundown of some of the leading teeth whitening solutions if you suffer from sensitive teeth.
Find out how much a colonoscopy costs in Australia and how you can avoid paying heaps.
Find out how much veneers cost in Australia and how you can avoid being hit with a big bill.
Find out how much dentures cost in Australia and how you can get cover with mid-level health insurance.
Check out these online courses to kick start your career as a dental assistant.
Get ready for straighter teeth with our comprehensive PureSmile guide.
Find out more about the costs of egg freezing and how to get cover.
Get cover to suit your budget and lifestyle.
Great offers, promos, and deals for today.
Hospital, extras, or neither? Find out in 1 minute.
Compare visa-compliant OVHC today.