The Basics Of Medisave For Dental Treatments

Dental care in Singapore can be expensive, especially when surgery is needed. Many families ask, "Can I use Medisave for dental work?"  Yes, however, there are some key rules and limits that you need to follow.

This article will tell you how Medisave works for dental procedures, which ones are covered, how much you can claim, and what to expect when you file a claim.  If you're a parent getting surgery for your child or an adult getting their wisdom teeth out, knowing how to use Medisave can help you save money.

What is Medisave, and how does it work?

Medisave is a section of Singapore's Central Provident Fund (CPF), which is a mandatory savings plan that helps people pay for health care costs.  Medisave gets a part of the wages of every working Singaporean and Permanent Resident.  You can use this money for hospital stays, surgeries, and some outpatient procedures, such dental surgery, that have been approved.

What dental work does Medisave pay for?

Medisave is not for regular dental care like cleanings, fillings, or cosmetic procedures like teeth whitening.  But it does cover surgical dental procedures because they are often medically required and cost a lot of money.  This makes it easier to get and pay for important dental treatment.

Which dental treatments may you claim on Medisave?

Medisave can only be used to pay for certain kinds of dental work.  These usually involve surgeries that are done in licensed day surgery centres.

Common Dental Procedures That Medisave Will Pay For:

•  Surgery to take out impacted wisdom teeth

•  Dental implants (only the surgery part)

•  Surgery on the jaw (orthognathic surgery)

•  Biopsies of tissues in the mouth

•  Taking out a cyst or tumour from the mouth or jaw

• Frenectomy is the process of removing tissue that limits the movement of the tongue or lips.

• Bone grafting or sinus lift surgery (getting ready for implants)
  

What about braces or cosmetic dentistry?

Sadly, braces, Invisalign, and cosmetic procedures like veneers or teeth whitening are not eligible for Medisave claims.  These are not medically necessary and are therefore optional.

What is the process for making a claim?

Usually, it's easy to make a Medisave claim for dental surgery.  Follow these steps:

Pick a clinic that is approved by Medisave.  Not every dentist's office is qualified, so check their accreditation first.

1. Get a quote for the cost and a plan for treatment.  The clinic will tell you how much of the fee you can get back from Medisave.

2. Fill out the Medisave Authorisation Forms that are required.

3. Get the operation done.

4. The clinic will file the claim for you.  You don't have to do the paperwork yourself.

5.  Patients usually just pay the part that Medisave doesn't cover.

Things to Remember

You and your family own Medisave.

As long as your spouse, children, parents, or grandparents are Singapore Citizens or Permanent Residents, you can use your Medisave savings for them as well.

There are limits on how much you can take out each year.

There are yearly limits on how much you may take out of Medisave for outpatient and surgical care combined, even if you have enough money.

You can't use Medisave to make deposits.

You still have to pay any mandatory deposits for surgery in advance.  The Medisave claim will follow after the procedure.

Real-Life Example: Why It Matters

Imagine that your teen needs to have two wisdom teeth that are hurting them taken out by a doctor.  The whole thing costs $1,600.  If each extraction is eligible for a $950 Medisave claim, you might not have to pay anything out of pocket, depending on how much money you have.

If you know these rules, you can plan ahead without worrying about money.

In conclusion

Knowing how to use Medisave for dental surgery gives you peace of mind and freedom with your money.  It fills the gap between what is medically necessary and what is affordable.  Knowing your Medisave benefits makes a big difference, whether you're a parent helping your child get dental surgery or an adult getting ready for an operation yourself.

If you're still not sure about claim limits or which operations are covered, always ask a reliable clinic like Nuffield Dental. They will give you clear advice and bill you in a way that is easy to understand.