Leggat P A, Leggat F W, Kedjarune U
School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, James Cook University, Queensland, Australia.
Int Dent J. 2001 Aug;51(4):268-72.
Little is known about dental problems suffered by travellers abroad. This study was designed to investigate travel insurance claims made by travellers from Australia for dental conditions, particularly examining demographic factors, type of travel insurance coverage, nature and duration of travel, when dental treatment was sought during travel, use of emergency assistance, type of treatment, and claim outcome, including cost.
1,289 claims submitted during 1998-99 to a major Australian-based travel insurance company were examined for dental claims.
104 (8.1%) claims for dental conditions were submitted, of which 45 (43.3%) were made by male and 59 (56.7%) by female travellers. The majority of claimants were in the 60 years and over age group 54 (52.4%). Dental conditions reported required conservative (mostly fillings) 31 (29.8%), endodontic (mostly root canal treatment) 19 (18.3%), prosthodontic 27 (26.0%), periodontal 8 (7.7%), oral and maxillofacial surgery 2 (1.9%) and other or multiple 17 (16.3%) treatments. Use of the travel insurance emergency telephone service for dental conditions was reported in only seven cases (6.7%). Almost two-thirds 64 (61.5%) of claims were accepted. Claims for prosthodontic treatment were significantly less likely to be accepted. The majority of dental conditions did not require further medical investigations, 74 (71.2%). The mean cost of payouts to claims was AU$238.06 for males and AU$182.58 for females. Claims for endodontic and prosthodontic treatment were significantly more expensive than other types of treatment.
Claims for dental conditions represent a noteworthy proportion of travel insurance claims made by Australian travellers abroad. More than three-quarters of claims for dental conditions were for conservative, endodontic or prosthodontic treatment. Travellers should be advised to have a dental check-up before departure overseas and to take care with pre-existing dental conditions, which may not be able to be claimed on travel insurance.
对于在国外旅行的人所患牙科问题知之甚少。本研究旨在调查澳大利亚旅行者因牙科疾病提出的旅行保险索赔，特别考察人口统计学因素、旅行保险范围类型、旅行性质和时长、旅行期间寻求牙科治疗的时间、紧急援助的使用情况、治疗类型以及索赔结果，包括费用。
对1998 - 1999年期间向一家总部位于澳大利亚的大型旅行保险公司提交的1289份索赔申请进行牙科索赔审查。
提交了104份（8.1%）牙科疾病索赔申请，其中男性旅行者提出45份（43.3%），女性旅行者提出59份（56.7%）。大多数索赔者年龄在60岁及以上，共54人（52.4%）。报告的牙科疾病需要保守治疗（主要是补牙）的有31例（29.8%），牙髓治疗（主要是根管治疗）的有19例（18.3%），修复治疗的有27例（26.0%），牙周治疗的有8例（7.7%），口腔颌面外科手术的有2例（1.9%），其他或多种治疗的有17例（16.3%）。仅7例（6.7%）报告因牙科疾病使用了旅行保险紧急电话服务。几乎三分之二（64例，61.5%）的索赔申请被接受。修复治疗的索赔申请被接受的可能性显著较低。大多数牙科疾病不需要进一步的医学检查，有74例（71.2%）。男性索赔获赔的平均费用为238.06澳元，女性为182.58澳元。牙髓治疗和修复治疗的索赔费用明显高于其他类型的治疗。
牙科疾病索赔在澳大利亚海外旅行者提出的旅行保险索赔中占相当比例。超过四分之三的牙科疾病索赔是用于保守治疗、牙髓治疗或修复治疗。应建议旅行者在出国前进行牙科检查，并留意原有牙科疾病，这些疾病可能无法通过旅行保险索赔。
