Dental plans, discount plans, payment plans. Confused by the terms your dentist's assistant throws at you? Do they all sound much the same? As if the technical details of the procedure weren't hard enough to follow, now there is jargon about paying for it too.
Here is what each one means.
What Are Dental Payment Plans?
Dental payment plans are quite different from dental insurance. Both set out to make dental care affordable and to stop people putting off treatment, but they work in very different ways.
Dental payment plans are also known as dental discount plans and dental savings plans. As those names suggest, a payment plan gives you a discount on your dental care. There are terms and conditions to meet, and once you do you get a membership card showing that you are part of the plan.
Many dentists accept dental payment plans. They make patients' lives easier, and they stop people skipping necessary treatment because of the cost.
Unlike dental insurance, applying for a dental payment plan is simple. That is one of the main reasons more people choose them.
How Do They Work?
You apply for membership with a dental payment plan provider and your membership card arrives within a few days. Show the card at your dentist's office to get the discount, as long as your dentist is part of that plan's network.
Discounts range from 10% to 60%, depending on how complex the procedure is. Coverage differs too. Some plans discount only necessary dental work, while others include smaller discounts on cosmetic procedures. Read the features and coverage of each plan before you decide which one fits your needs.
Processing times vary, but approval generally takes about two weeks. Getting approved within a week is not unusual.
When you need treatment from a dentist in the provider's network, the dentist charges you the discounted amount directly. You pay the dentist and that is the end of it. All you have to do is keep up with the yearly payments.
There are several payment plan providers around. You can search and compare them here on our discount dental plans page to see which one would work best for you.
Key Features and Benefits
Dental payment plans are simpler and less cumbersome than most other types of dental plan. More people are choosing them over insurance, for a few reasons:
- Younger people like them because some plans also discount cosmetic procedures such as teeth whitening and alignment.
- They suit people whose dental needs go beyond what insurance usually covers, which often includes older patients.
- The payments are fixed and yearly, so there is nothing to find every month.
- The process is far quicker than applying for a loan or an insurance policy, and you can start using the plan within a few days of applying.
- There are no authorizations and no waiting period for emergencies or major dental work. You can go ahead with the treatment your dentist recommends.
How Much Do They Cost?
The charges are easier to understand than most plans. They usually come to:
- A small, one-off joining fee.
- A modest yearly membership charge for the whole family.
- No deductible, so there is no set amount to pay before the plan starts working.
- No monthly payments to keep track of.
You can start using the plan as soon as your membership card arrives.
What Is the Best Dental Payment Plan for Me?
Not every dentist accepts every dental payment plan, so check which dentists a plan covers, or ask your dentist which plans they are part of.
You can search for dental payment plans and the dentists in their networks here on Dental Plan Provider.
Rather than putting off important dental treatment for lack of funds, a dental payment plan is worth a look.
Dental payment plans are an uncomplicated way of staying on top of your dental care without the financial stress. With discounted treatment you are far more likely to keep up regular visits.
If you're unsure which payment plan to opt for, search our site here at Dental Plan Provider and compare your options.
