Dental and Implant Insurance: What’s Covered and What to Check
A dental implant, crown, or full-mouth rehabilitation can cost thousands of shekels, and the public health basket covers dental treatment only for specific populations. In this article: what the public basket includes, what private dental insurance adds, and which terms — ceilings, waiting period, and pre-approval — matter most.
What the public basket includes
The state health basket includes basic dental treatment for defined populations, such as children up to age 18 and certain other groups, but does not fund dental implants for the general adult population. So the cost of an implant is a private expense — unless you’ve bought suitable dental insurance.
What private dental insurance covers
All four health funds and insurance companies offer dental insurance at a separate cost. Coverage varies, but in most comprehensive plans:
- Implants — usually partial coverage (for example, a set percentage of the cost).
- Root canals and crowns — usually a higher reimbursement rate.
- Preventive treatments — checkups, scaling and fillings, depending on the plan.
The percentages and ceilings vary widely between plans, so a single number can’t replace checking your own terms.
Terms worth checking
Complex treatments like implants usually have a waiting period of months before coverage takes effect, plus annual coverage ceilings and sometimes a limit on the number of implants per year. In addition, a surgical implant treatment usually requires pre-approval from the insurer. Watch also the copay and any exclusions based on your health declaration.
How Ravit can help
What percentage of an implant is covered, the waiting period in your plan, and the annual coverage ceiling — are written in the policy terms. Send Ravit your dental policy documents on WhatsApp, ask in plain language, and get a policy-based answer with a clause reference — and honesty when there’s no certainty.
The information in this article is general only and does not constitute medical, insurance, legal, or pension advice, and is not a substitute for reading your policy terms or consulting a licensed professional. Coverage, amounts, and conditions vary between policies and change over time — always verify against your own specific policy and an authorized professional.
Frequently asked questions
Does health insurance cover dental implants?
The public health basket doesn’t fund dental implants for the general adult population, so an implant is usually a private expense. Dedicated dental insurance typically covers part of the implant cost, according to the reimbursement percentages and ceilings in the plan you bought.
What’s the reimbursement rate for an implant vs a root canal?
In most comprehensive plans, implants are partially covered, while root canals usually enjoy a higher reimbursement rate. The exact rates vary between plans, so it’s important to check the terms in your specific policy.
Is there a waiting period in dental insurance?
Yes, complex treatments like implants usually have a waiting period of several months before coverage takes effect. There are also annual coverage ceilings and sometimes a limit on the number of implants covered per year.
Is pre-approval required for a dental implant?
A surgical implant treatment usually requires pre-approval from the insurer before the treatment is performed. It’s recommended to arrange the approval in advance to confirm eligibility and the reimbursement amount.
Want to check this against your own policy? Ravit answers usually within minutes, on WhatsApp.
Start talking to RavitMore details: www.ravit.ai · Free during the pilot, no commitment.