Smile.com.au

Smile.com.au: reduced and capped dental fees across Australia

Smile.com.au is a dental cover service operating in Australia that presents itself as an alternative to traditional health insurance. Through a network of over 4,000 participating dentists, members get reduced and capped fees on all treatments, with no waiting periods, no treatment exclusions and no annual benefit limits. The company states it has over one million members and an excellent rating based on more than 7,000 reviews.

Cover model and how it works

Smile.com.au does not work like traditional health insurance. Members pay an annual cover fee and, when visiting a network dentist, show their digital card to get reduced and capped fees on the spot. There are no waiting periods: cover is effective from the moment you join. There are also no exclusions for pre-existing conditions and no annual limits on the number of benefits. The company highlights that you don't pay for unnecessary services such as physio or chiro, and that the annual fee does not increase over time.

Plans and pricing

Individual cover costs $79 a year. For two years, the price is $139 for the first two years, instead of $158. The company offers a total satisfaction guarantee: if the member is not satisfied with the benefits within the first 7 days, the amount is refunded. The site indicated that these prices correspond to a limited-time promotion.

Covered treatments

Cover applies to all treatments performed by network dentists, including minor, major and cosmetic dentistry, orthodontics and treatment for pre-existing conditions. Among the treatments mentioned are cosmetic dentistry, dental braces, bridges, crowns and implants. The site also publishes oral health resources, such as guides on how crowns are done on front teeth, oral care during cancer treatment, causes of infection after root canal, diabetes and dental care, and alternatives to dentures.

Comparison with health insurance

Smile.com.au explicitly positions itself against Australia's major health funds such as Medibank, Bupa, HCF, nib and HBF. According to its comparison, members of these funds pay high premiums that increase every year for a package of services that are often unused, and they also face out-of-pocket costs and restrictions such as waiting periods, annual limits and exclusions. Smile.com.au states that its members can save significant amounts: for example, on a dental clean in New South Wales, the cost with Smile.com.au would be up to $286 ($79 annual cover plus $207 capped fee), compared to $1,676 with Medibank Single Top Extras. On a root canal, the cost with Smile.com.au would be up to $868, compared to $2,318 with Medibank.

Dentist network and geographic presence

Smile.com.au's network includes over 4,000 dentists across Australia. The site lists popular locations in cities such as Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Gold Coast, Newcastle, Canberra, Sunshine Coast, Central Coast, Wollongong, Geelong, Hobart, Townsville, Cairns, Toowoomba, Darwin, Ballarat, Bendigo, Albury Wodonga, Launceston, Mackay, Rockhampton, Bunbury, Bundaberg, Coffs Harbour, Hervey Bay, Wagga Wagga, Shepparton and Mildura. The company also offers enterprise dental cover and a return on investment calculator for employers.

Joining and member management

Anyone can join Smile.com.au, with no requirement to be an Australian citizen. After joining, the member receives a welcome email and text to set up the Smile app, instantly accesses their digital card and can manage their cover, scan dental invoices to check savings and access reward points. The company also offers a program for dentists who wish to become preferred providers in the network.