Private Health (PMI) · What's covered · 2026

Does private health insurance cover dental & optical? (UK 2026)

Not as standard. Core private medical insurance is built for acute medical treatment, so routine dentistry and eye care sit outside it. You get dental and optical cover in one of two ways — an optional add-on module on a PMI policy, or a separate health cash plan — both of which pay back a share of your costs up to annual limits. Here is exactly how it works.

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Quick answer

The short version

Standard PMI does not cover routine dental or optical — check-ups, fillings, eye tests, glasses and contact lenses are not part of core acute medical cover.
You add them with an optional dental/optical module on a health insurance policy, or buy a health cash plan instead — a low-cost policy that reimburses everyday health costs.
Both work on a cashback basis: you pay upfront, then claim back a percentage (commonly around 50–100%) up to a set annual limit.
Some acute events may fall under core PMI — for example dental treatment after an accident, or oral cancer — depending on the policy, but everyday dentistry and eye care do not.

How it works

The two routes to dental & optical cover

Route	What it typically covers	How you claim & typical limits
Core PMI (standard)	Acute medical treatment only. Routine dental and optical are excluded; some policies may pay for acute exceptions such as accidental dental injury or oral cancer	No routine dental/optical benefit — you would need an add-on or a cash plan for everyday costs
Dental / optical add-on module	Bolts onto a PMI policy. Routine and restorative dentistry, eye tests, glasses and contact lenses, within the module's terms	Cashback, often around 80% of the cost, up to separate annual limits for dental and optical; waiting periods (commonly a few months) can apply
Health cash plan (separate policy)	Everyday health costs — dental, optical, physiotherapy, prescriptions and more — usually bought on its own, not as PMI	Reimburses roughly 50–100% up to per-benefit annual limits; individual plans commonly cost around a low tens of pounds per month
Optical limits	Routine eye tests and a contribution towards glasses or contact lenses	Annual optical limits commonly fall in the region of a hundred to a few hundred pounds per person
Dental limits	Routine check-ups and hygiene, then restorative work (fillings, crowns); emergency dental is often separate	Routine and restorative dental often carry their own annual caps; richer add-ons can allow more for restorative treatment

Indicative ranges for orientation only — not a quote and not a statement of any specific policy's terms. Percentages, annual limits and waiting periods vary widely by insurer, plan and module; always read the policy documents.

Why it is not in the core policy

PMI covers acute treatment, not routine upkeep

Private medical insurance exists to pay for acute conditions — short-term problems that arise after your policy starts and respond to treatment, such as a hip replacement or investigating a new symptom. Routine dentistry and eye care are predictable, ongoing maintenance, not acute medical events, which is why they fall outside standard cover. That distinction is the same acute-condition principle that shapes what the rest of a policy pays for — see what private health insurance covers for the full picture, and the private health insurance hub for how the cover fits together. There are narrow exceptions: some policies will pay for dental treatment needed after an accident, or for oral cancer, because those are acute. Everyday check-ups, fillings, eye tests and glasses are not.

Add-on vs cash plan

Two ways to add dental and optical — and how they differ

The first route is a dental and optical add-on that bolts onto a private health insurance policy. It keeps everything on one policy and one renewal, and typically reimburses a percentage of your costs — often around 80% — up to separate annual limits for dental and optical. Add-ons frequently include a waiting period (commonly a few months) before you can claim, and may split the dental limit between routine and restorative treatment. You still visit any dentist or optician, pay upfront, and submit the receipt.

The second route is a standalone health cash plan. This is a separate, usually low-cost policy — individual cover commonly runs to a low tens of pounds a month — that reimburses a range of everyday costs including dental, optical, physiotherapy and prescriptions, each up to its own annual limit. Cash plans are simple, rarely underwritten, and work well if your main aim is money back on predictable costs rather than fast private treatment. If you also want cover for allied therapies, see how physiotherapy cover works. To keep any policy affordable, read how to reduce your premium, and check the wider cost of private health insurance before deciding which route fits.

Common questions

Dental, optical and private health insurance — FAQs

Is dental and optical included in standard private health insurance?

No. Standard private medical insurance covers acute medical treatment, not routine dentistry or eye care. Check-ups, fillings, eye tests, glasses and contact lenses are not part of core cover — you add them through an optional dental/optical module or buy a separate health cash plan.

How do I add dental and optical cover?

There are two main routes. You can add a dental/optical module to a private health insurance policy, keeping everything on one plan, or you can buy a standalone health cash plan that reimburses everyday costs including dental and optical. Both pay back a share of your costs up to annual limits.

How does dental and optical cover pay out?

It usually works on a cashback basis. You visit any dentist or optician, pay for the treatment yourself, then submit the receipt to your insurer, which refunds a percentage — commonly around 50 to 100% depending on the plan — up to a set annual limit for that benefit.

What are typical dental and optical limits?

There is no single figure — limits vary widely by insurer and plan. As a rough guide, optical annual limits often fall in the region of a hundred to a few hundred pounds per person, and dental benefits typically carry their own annual caps, sometimes split between routine and restorative work. Always check the specific plan's limits.

Is a health cash plan the same as private health insurance?

No. A health cash plan is a separate, usually low-cost policy that reimburses everyday health costs such as dental, optical and physiotherapy up to annual limits. Private medical insurance instead pays for acute private treatment such as consultations, diagnostics and surgery. Some people hold both for different purposes.

Is there a waiting period before I can claim for dental?

Often, yes. Dental add-ons and cash plans commonly apply a waiting period — frequently a few months — before you can claim, particularly for routine and restorative dentistry. Check the plan's terms so you know when cover begins and which benefits are available from the start.

Does core private health insurance ever pay for dental treatment?

Sometimes, but only for acute cases. Depending on the policy, core PMI may cover dental treatment needed after an accident, or conditions such as oral cancer, because those are acute medical events. Routine dentistry — check-ups, hygiene and fillings — is not covered by core cover and needs an add-on or cash plan.

Information only — not financial advice. Cover, percentages, annual limits and waiting periods are indicative and vary by insurer, plan and module; they are not quotes or a statement of any specific policy's terms. Always read your policy documents. My Insurance Expert is not an FCA-authorised intermediary and does not arrange or sell policies. Last updated: 2026-08-09

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