Many French people make this observation every year. Between insufficient reimbursements, the differences in rates from one practitioner to another, and the lack of clear information, it is difficult to find your way around. However, there are effective levers to Save on dental care, without compromising the quality of treatments or indefinitely postponing necessary care.
Here is 5 concrete tips to lighten the bill and better anticipate your dental expenses.
Choosing a suitable dental insurance company
The choice of the dental mutual insurance company is The first key to reduce dental care expenses. And it’s not a matter of luck: it’s a matter of careful comparison and well-targeted guarantees.
Compare specific benefits
Not all complementary health insurance policies are created equal, especially on Expensive positions such as implants, adult orthodontics or ceramic crowns. Some contracts only offer a Annual flat rate from €200 to €300for heavy dental care… others go up to €1,000 or even €1,500 depending on the options.
Let’s take a simple example: an implant billed at €2,000. If your mutual insurance company offers a flat rate of €1,000, you will only have to pay half. But with coverage limited to €200, your out-of-pocket expenses rises to €1,800. The difference is huge.
Hence the importance of Read the guarantee grids and compare offers with equivalent guarantees.
Opt for smart “ECO” options
Another tip is to Reduce Warranties on little-used items (such as optics, if you don’t need glasses) to lower the overall contribution. It’s a good way to find a cheap mutual insurance but effective on dental care.
Some companies even offer modular formulas, focused solely on the real needs of the insured: strong coverage on dental, lighter on the rest. It is often More profitable in the long run.
Take advantage of partner care networks
Another lever that is often underestimated: partner care networks, such as Kalixia, Itelis, or Santéclair. These platforms bring together practitioners who are committed to Respecting capped rates.
Advantages of panel dentists
In concrete terms, if you consult a Partner dentist, you benefit from Negotiated rates, better coverage by your mutual insurance company, and sometimes even Full third-party payment.
An example? A metal-ceramic crown may be charged €800 in a private practice, but capped at €500 in a partner network. The gain is immediate, without any negotiation on your part.
To take advantage of it, all you have to do is consult the online directory of your Mutual or use our search tool [Lien vers votre page « réseau dentaire partenaire »].
Anticipate with a preliminary estimate
Before committing to a major dental treatment, a reflex to adopt: Request a detailed quote to the dentist and send it to your mutual insurance company. This document not only makes it possible to know in advance the amount refunded, but also Negotiate or adjust the care plan.
How to Use a Quote to Negotiate
Once you have the quote, you can:
- Ask your mutual insurance company the exact amount of the refund ;
- compare with a second practitioner if the price seems high to you;
- discuss with the dentistCheaper therapeutic alternatives.
It is also an opportunity to test our Online simulator : In two minutes, you get a clear estimate of your remaining out-of-pocket expenses, according to your health contract.
Use third-party payment to avoid advance payments
The other sensitive point is Advance payment. Even if you are well reimbursed, taking €1,000 out of your pocket while waiting to be reimbursed can be a hindrance. This is where the Third-party payment becomes interesting.
How do I activate the third-party payment card?
Most complementary health insurance companies offer a Third-party payment card, valid at the approved professionals. It allows you to not advance the repaid portion by social security and mutual insurance.
With certain contracts, such as those of Malakoff Humanis, the third-party payer can even cover up to 80% of the agreed rate, which reduces your Remaining expenses immediate at a few dozen euros.
It is usually enough to Present your card to the practitioner and to check that he is indeed affiliated to the network.
Prevention rather than cure
Finally, the simplest, but also the most neglected, trick: preventive care. A regular check-up at the dentist allows you to Spot problems early and to avoid heavy treatments… and expensive.
Preventive care reimbursed at 100%
The annual oral examination, the descaling, or the installation of furrow sealants for children are often 100% supported by the Health Insurance.
And this is not negligible: an untreated cavity can quickly evolve into an infection, requiring a devitalization at €400 or even an implant at €2,000. A simple inspection per year can save you up to €200 on curative care.
Some mutual insurance companies even encourage these preventive visits by offering a Loyalty bonus or a Best refund the following year.
5 reflexes to reduce the bill
In summary, there are concrete levers to Save on dental care, provided that you do it a little beforehand:
✅ Compare Dental Benefits Of your mutual, aiming for high lump sums on expensive acts.
✅ Use a partner care network to benefit from negotiated rates.
✅ Request a quote in advance to anticipate repayments and make competition work.
✅ Activate third-party payment so as not to advance large sums of money.
✅ Don’t neglect prevention, often 100% refunded.
