nib First Choice dental

nib's First Choice dental network includes over 2,500 participating dental clinics that charge agreed rates* to nib members for common dental treatments. Use our Find a Provider tool to check whether your current dentist is part of our network or to find a participating First Choice provider near you.  

Visiting a First Choice network provider means:  

• You may get a percentage of your provider's fee back on eligible services  

• You can get 100% back on preventative check-ups (No Gap) at participating clinics^  

• You can access agreed rates* to help your dental Extras limits last longer   

• You may have more certainty about what you'll pay before treatment.

The amount you get back depends on your level of Extras cover, the treatment you receive and which dentist you see.

When you visit a First Choice network provider, our current range of Extras covers offer 50% to 70% back per visitˣ, up to your annual limit. When you visit a non-First Choice network provider, you'll receive a set benefit (which is a fixed dollar amount) for each eligible service instead of a percentage back. Non-First Choice providers set their own fees, so your out-of-pocket cost will depend on what they charge for your treatment.

Before your next appointment, check your cover and annual limits in the nib App or your member account. Use our Find a Provider tool to check whether your dentist is part of the First Choice network.

First Choice dental providers agree to charge nib members a certain price for many common treatments and consultations. We call this an agreed rate.^* Because the provider has agreed to this price, you may have more certainty about your treatment cost and could pay less out-of-pocket. We review agreed rates at least once a year, and they may change or vary by state.

An agreed rate is different from a set benefit, which is the fixed dollar amount you get back from us when you visit a non-First Choice network dental provider.

A gap payment, also called an out-of-pocket cost, is the amount you need to pay a provider after nib pays its share of the cost. For example, if your dentist charges $100 and nib pays $60, you pay the remaining $40. If you’re eligible and visit a participating No Gap provider for an included preventative dental check-up, nib pays the full agreed price, so you pay $0.^{^}

Use our Find a Provider tool to check whether your current dentist is part of our network or to find a participating First Choice provider near you. It's worth checking before each appointment, as providers occasionally leave the nib First Choice network. Some First Choice network providers also offer 100% back on preventative dental check-ups^{^} (No Gap) for our eligible members.

Only First Choice network dentists appear in the Find a Provider tool. If you can't find your dentist, they're not currently part of our network.  

You can still see any recognised dental provider that you choose. What you're covered for doesn't change, but the amount you get back may be different. Instead of a percentage of the provider's fee, you'll receive a set benefit (which is a fixed dollar amount) for each eligible service. Dentists outside the network set their own fees, so your out-of-pocket cost will depend on what they charge for your treatment.  

Want to know what you'll pay before you book? Ask your dentist for a health benefit quote with the item numbers and fees for your planned treatment. That way you'll know roughly what to expect out-of-pocket.

Orthodontics is a specialised dentistry service that focuses on helping to correctly align teeth, bites and jaws. If your health cover includes orthodontic benefits, you may be able to claim costs for various procedures such as braces and plates.

For orthodontic treatment, we pay a percentage of the eligible treatment cost rather than a set benefit (fixed dollar amount). The percentage and maximum amount you can claim depend on your level of cover. Because orthodontic treatment can be expensive, check how much you can claim in your member account or the nib App, or ask your provider for a quote before you begin treatment.

Your orthodontia annual limit is the most you can claim for orthodontic treatment in a calendar year. After serving a 12-month waiting period, you can begin claiming up to the starting annual limit shown on your cover.

For each calendar year with nib, your orthodontia annual limit increases by $100, regardless of previous orthodontia cover. For example, if you start with an $800 limit, it will increase to $900 in your second year, $1000 in your third year and so on.  

Each plan has a lifetime limit for orthodontia. This is the total amount you can claim for orthodontic treatment over the life of your cover. Once you reach this limit, you can’t claim any more towards orthodontic treatment.