Awareness and Need for Dental Insurance in India: A Survey-Based Study Among Dental Health Care Professionals

ABSTRACT

Background:

Oral health is vital to overall well-being, but high dental care costs often restrict access, particularly in developing countries like India. Although dental insurance could alleviate these costs and enhance accessibility, it remains underdeveloped in Southeast Asia, including India.

Objective:

This study evaluates the awareness and perceived need for dental insurance among dental health professionals and students in India, focusing on their views regarding its role in improving care accessibility.

Methods:

An online cross-sectional survey was administered to 500 participants (dentists and dental students) at a dental college in Gandhinagar, India. Data from 474 completed responses were analyzed after excluding 26 incomplete ones. The survey covered personal demographics, insurance status, perceptions of dental care costs, and interest in dental insurance.

Results:

The survey revealed a significant demand for dental insurance. A substantial 85.3% of participants found private dental treatments costly, and 90.6% viewed dental insurance was as crucial as medical insurance. Furthermore, 76.7% showed interest in learning more about dental insurance.

Conclusion:

Integrating dental insurance into India's healthcare system could enhance dental care access by lowering financial barriers. Increased awareness and education about dental insurance among dental professionals and students are essential to address existing gaps and improve oral health outcomes.

INTRODUCTION

Oral health is a crucial component of overall well-being and is considered a gateway to a healthy body. Despite its importance, the high cost of dental care often prevents individuals from seeking necessary treatments.[1,2] While many industrialized nations have developed methods to address these issues, including various forms of insurance, developing countries like India have yet to fully adopt comprehensive dental insurance systems.[3,4]

The introduction of dental insurance in India, facilitated by the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) bill, presents an opportunity to address these challenges. However, dental insurance remains a nascent concept in Southeast Asia, and its integration into the Indian market requires a thorough understanding of its potential impact on dental care accessibility and quality.[5,6,7]

This study aims to assess the awareness and need for dental insurance among dental healthcare professionals and students in India, with the hope of gaining insights into how dental insurance might affect different sociodemographic groups and their access to dental care.[8]

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This online, cross-sectional survey was conducted using a validated questionnaire to evaluate the awareness and need for dental insurance among dentists and dental students, with institutional ethical approval number KSDEC/23-24/Apr/025A. The survey included 12 questions covering personal details, insurance status, and opinions on dental treatment and insurance, as shown in Table 1.

Table 1.

Survey questionnaire

Question number	Question
1	Full name
2	Gender
3	Age group
4	Occupation
5	Have you ever visited a dentist?
6	Where do you prefer to get your treatment done?
7	Do you consider dental treatment expensive at private dental clinics?
8	Have you undergone any costly dental treatment?
9	Do you view dental treatment as equally important as other medical treatments?
10	Do you have medical insurance?
11	Do you believe dental insurance is as important as medical insurance?
12	Would you like to learn more about dental insurance?

The survey was administered to 500 individuals, with 474 completed responses analyzed. The data was processed using SPSS and MS Excel, with frequency distribution and Chi-square tests employed for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

The survey results revealed that the majority of respondents were female (69.4%) and under 30 years old (96.0%), with a predominant representation of dental students (73.8%). A significant 79.0% of participants had visited a dentist, with a strong preference for private clinics (74.0%) over government or charitable hospitals. Despite this, 85.3% of respondents perceived private dental treatments as expensive. Most participants (97.3%) viewed dental treatments as equally important as other medical treatments, and 90.6% believed dental insurance was as crucial as medical insurance. Additionally, 76.7% expressed interest in learning more about dental insurance. Statistical analysis indicated a significant association between the perception of high dental treatment costs and preference for private clinics and between the perceived importance of dental treatments and dental insurance.

DISCUSSION

A significant limitation of existing studies is the lack of rigorous design and analysis, with many failing to provide any substantive analysis.[9,10] The scarcity of research on dental financing systems makes it challenging to draw comparisons between different studies.[11,12,13] Dental prepayment programs, such as insurance, are considered effective for expanding access to dental services. In such programs, a third party—often an insurance company or governmental body—pays the dentist rather than the patient directly.[14]

In several European countries, including Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, and Switzerland, oral healthcare is financed through government-regulated or compulsory social insurance systems, providing coverage for about 180 million people across Europe. In Nordic countries and the UK, care is typically provided based on residence or citizenship through tax-funded health services, except in Norway and Iceland. Southern Europe, Norway, Ireland, and Iceland often rely on direct patient payments and private insurance, with some publicly funded services available only for specific groups or regions.[15]

In India, dental coverage is typically excluded from basic health insurance policies but may be included in an out-patient department (OPD) cover with an additional premium. For example, a health insurance policy costing Rs. 10,000 annually might increase to Rs. 11,000 with OPD dental coverage. Even with OPD coverage, there are conditions such as waiting periods—e.g., a three-year wait before claiming dental expenses—and upper limits on coverage—e.g., a Rs. 5,000 limit on claims for a Rs. 12,000 bill. Benefits of dental insurance include as follows:

1. Financial Assistance: Dental insurance helps alleviate financial burdens by covering part of the medical expenses.[16]

2. Regular Check-ups: Insurance coverage may encourage individuals to schedule regular dental visits, improving overall dental health.[17]

Eligibility for dental insurance typically includes a minimum age of 18, with an upper limit of 65 years. Exact details may vary between policies and insurers. Typical coverage includes X-rays, oral check-ups, dental injuries from accidents, root canal treatments, fillings, extractions, and preventive treatments. Exclusions often include dentures, jaw alignment, implants, prosthetics, and orthodontics.[18,19]

CONCLUSION

The survey highlighted a substantial need for dental insurance. Overall, the Need for Dental insurance is to establish the Sustainable Developmental Goal of Universal Health Coverage proposed by the United Nations, focusing on SDG:3 Good Health and Well Being. With a majority of participants finding private dental treatments expensive and considering dental insurance as important as medical insurance, there is a clear demand for affordable dental coverage. This indicates a significant gap in coverage and a pressing need for comprehensive dental insurance solutions to enhance the accessibility and affordability of dental care.[17,18]

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

Funding Statement

Nil.