Bupa has announced it will introduce increased benefits under its new Members First Platinum dental network.
Ayela Thilo, the company's director of customer experience, said expressions of interest were being sent to dentists ahead of the program launching to its customers in September.
“At Bupa, we’re always looking for more ways to deliver additional value and make quality health care affordable for our customers,” said Ms Thilo.
“Bupa is pleased to announce its new Members First Platinum dental network, which will provide our customers (who have combined hospital and extras cover*) with no out-of-pocket costs on a range of common preventative dental services. This includes general check-ups, mouthguards and x-rays.
“Bupa customers currently receive outstanding value when they visit a Members First dental provider. The Members First network allows our customers to receive dental care without unexpected gap payments, in line with their health insurance policies. Bupa’s new Members First Platinum network will offer even greater value to our customers.
“This new network, which will operate at select clinics across Australia from September, will provide our customers with more options about which dental clinic they choose and how much they pay for general dental check-ups and preventative care. The current Members First network will continue to be available for Bupa customers to utilise, with the benefits of the current Members First arrangements continuing to apply in full.
“We know that regular dental check-ups and preventative dental care are essential for good oral health, as well as overall health. We also know that the cost of dental care sadly prevents many Australians from seeing a dentist. Members First Platinum has been designed to ensure Bupa customers can have regular check-ups and preventative care by removing some of the financial burden.
“We know that dentists are passionate about the oral health of their patients and we’re confident that many dentists will be interested in removing patients’ out-of-pocket costs via the new Members First Platinum network. Dentists are invited to apply to become a Members First Platinum network provider. It is a voluntary initiative, with no changes to existing Members First arrangements,” Ms Thilo said.
Bupa said it is aiming to have a number of Members First Platinum providers across Australia with members informed of their location in September.