Dental Insurance
Problems With Dental Insurance Plans
Dental insurance plans assist people with paying for the costs of dental services. However, since many dental insurance plans only cover 50 percent of the dental care costs, consumers must carefully weigh a plan’s benefits with its costs.
By understanding some of the common problems with dental insurance, a consumer can determine whether a specific dental insurance plan will meet her needs.
Premium Cost
The premium cost of dental insurance varies widely, depending on the specific coverage provided by the policy.
Consumers should look back at their total dental spending for the past year and compare that against the yearly cost of the dental insurance premium for the policy under consideration.
Consumers should also consider factors — such as needed dental work — when making a purchasing decision about dental insurance.
Limited Coverage
Many consumers seek to buy dental insurance when they have a pressing need for dental work. However, many dental insurance policies limit the amount of coverage during the first year the policy is in place.
For example, a policy may pay 50 percent of the costs of some services, but it will only pay 20 percent for these services during the first year. Consumers should carefully review the documentation provided with the insurance plan to determine what limitations are initially in place.
Even beyond the first year, dental insurance plan coverage amounts will vary greatly. Consumers should determine how much the policy will pay for a variety of services to determine how much benefit they will receive from the coverage. Read the rest of this entry »
Individual Health and Dental Insurance
If you work for a large employer, you may have the option of participating in a group health or dental plan. These plans can be helpful, but if you do not have access to one, you can always buy the coverage on your own. While similar, individual health and dental insurance plans are a little different than group plans.
No Subsidized Premiums
When switching from a group health insurance plan to an individual plan, the first thing you may notice is that the premiums are no longer subsidized. When you work for an employer, you typically get all or part of your health insurance premiums paid for.
Once you make the switch to an individual health insurance plan, you will have to pay the entire bill for your insurance premiums. This can lead to premiums that are much higher than what you pay with a group plan.
High-Deductible Plans
When you get an individual health insurance plan, one of the options that you have is to purchase a high-deductible health insurance plan. With a high-deductible plan, you can participate in a health savings account.
This allows you to set aside money on a pretax basis for your out-of-pocket medical expenses. In addition to gaining access to a health savings account, you can also lower your insurance premiums by taking a higher deductible on your policy.
Individual Dental Plans
Many people who do not work for an employer that offers dental coverage end up avoiding coverage because of the high cost. Premiums for regular dental coverage can be prohibitive, which may lead you to explore some other options when it comes to getting dental care.
You could get an indemnity plan, which allows you to choose your own dentist and simply pay a discounted fee for each service. Another option to consider is a dental preferred provider organization (PPO). With this option, you can access a select network of dentists. Read the rest of this entry »
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Can You Get Individual Family Dental Insurance?
Individual dental insurance, also called private dental insurance, is available for you and your family. Dental and medical insurance companies may offer stand-alone individual dental policies as well as integrated policies with dental and medical insurance combined.
You can find individual family dental insurance through a health insurance agent or directly from the dental insurer.
Individual Dental Policies
Individual dental plans include policies for individuals and their families and may offer dental services beyond routine care. Routine care typically includes two exams per years, two cleanings per year and two x-rays per year.
Other services such as orthodontics, periodontics and endodontics may vary from plan to plan. Some of these services may be covered and others may be available as an add-on at a higher cost. Any dental insurance you receive from an employer is considered group insurance.
PPO and DHMO
Preferred provider organizations and dental health maintenance organizations comprise most individual dental plans types. The concept is the same as medical plans. PPOs offer the flexibility to seek care from any dentist or specialist you wish.
However, seeking care from an out-of-network dentist will cost you more out-of-pocket. DHMOs limit you to seeking care from a network provider, but the cost of the policy and any out-of-pockets costs are lower than that of a PPO dental plan.
Finding Individual Dental Coverage
You can find individual family dental insurance through several resources. If you work with a health insurance agent, he can research dental plan option in your area and provide you with quotes. He’ll also facilitate the application process and deliver the policy to you.
You can also contact the dental insurer directly to apply for coverage online at her website or by telephone. Also, check with your medical plan to see if it offers an umbrella policy with dental coverage. Read the rest of this entry »
The Average Cost of Dental Insurance
Forty-six percent of the U.S. population does not have dental insurance, according to figures released by the National Association of Dental Plans. Whether individually purchased or employer-sponsored, three types of dental insurance exist, each varying in cost and benefits.
DHMO
Individual coverage through a Dental Health Management Organization (DHMO) averages $13 per month. DHMOs are excellent for preventive services, usually covered at 100 percent, but tend to limit the types of major and restorative services by either paying less (50 percent) or not covering at all.
PPO
The 2008 report of the National Association of Dental Plans states that the average PPO dental insurance plan costs $30 per month, per individual.
PPO plans pay a set price for “preferred” doctors within their network at a set percentage, most commonly 100 percent for preventive services, 80 percent for basic and restoration, and 50 percent for any major service. Plans vary and less coverage lowers the monthly cost.
Indemnity Plans
Indemnity plans, also called “fee-for-service” plans, are the traditional insurance types, rarely available for individual purchase and provided mostly by large companies.
The average premium is $40 per individual on a monthly basis, and services are covered at any dental practice, allowing more freedom to pick and choose providers. Coverage amounts vary and maximums are usually capped at $2,000 per year. Read the rest of this entry »
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Dental Insurance Benefits
Maintaining the health of your teeth and gums is important to your overall health. Visits to the dentist can be inexpensive or can become costly depending on your services.
Having dental insurance will help to minimize your out-of-pocket expenses as most policies will cover an array of dental services. Some policies may require that you meet an annual deductible before some services and most of them have an calendar year maximum amount that they will cover each year.
Preventative Benefits
Regular checkups help to maintain the health of your teeth, gums and mouth. Many dental insurance policies offer to pay most of all of the costs associated with preventative and diagnostic care.
Since it is recommended that people should receive regular teeth cleanings every six months, insurance companies want to promote pro-activity in taking care of your dental hygiene.
Preventative care usually includes a basic exam, x-rays and a cleaning. The dentist will be able to determine the health of your teeth and can discover any potential problems or issues that could be taken care of before they escalate to bigger health issues.
Taking the preventative approach in your dental care will save money for both you and the insurance company as well as preserve your dental health.
Basic Care Benefits
Dental insurance benefits also include care for basic dental needs that arise from time to time. If during your visit to the dentist he discovers that you have a cavity, your policy may include cavity fillings.
Your policy may also include extractions, which would be useful if an occasion arises that requires you to have teeth removed such as when wisdom teeth grow in and are painful or become infected.
If you crack or chip a tooth dental policy benefits may cover having it repaired. Depending on your coverage, the dental insurance policy may require that you meet an annual deductible before it pays a percentage of the costs of these services. Read the rest of this entry »
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About Dental Insurance
Dental insurance is the most commonly used to pay for major dental problems. Instead of paying the full cost of a dental procedure, you can pay the fraction of the cost.
Procedures that are usually covered under dental insurance include fixing a broken tooth, an extraction or even a dental abscess. To help prevent dental issues, dental insurance is used to take care of most of the costs for preventive services as well.
Function
Dental insurance pays the costs of taking care of your dental needs. Various dental insurance providers have a preset payment structure to cover common dental procedures. The restrictions of most dental insurance providers are not as stringent as health insurance.
Preexisting procedures are usually covered under their terms and conditions. Visit your local dentist, receive a thorough examination and get a list of the needed procedures. Employers usually furnish a dental insurance separate from your health insurance.
Types
There are two categories that dental insurance falls under. The first includes a service named PPO. This stands for Preferred Provider Organization and your dental fees are negotiated with a provider ahead of time and a co-payment must also be paid by you. The second dental insurance is a DHMO. It contains a list of dental procedures that have a fixed dollar amount without a co-payment. Read the rest of this entry »
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