With so many dental plan providers out there, and even more plans, choosing one gets confusing and stressful.
All dental plans set out to do the same job, but they differ in features, pricing and networks. The good news is that dental plans are not as baffling as health insurance. They are much easier to follow.
A dental plan is clear about which services are covered and how much you will pay out of your own pocket.
Dental plans exist so that people can look after their teeth without going broke doing it.
Dental work is expensive, and plenty of people could not afford it if it was not discounted. That is the main reason people buy dental plans. A range of procedures is covered, and you pay only a percentage of the bill, with the plan taking care of the rest.
What you pay varies a great deal from plan to plan. Dental insurance charges a monthly premium. A discount plan charges a membership fee instead, usually yearly. Either way, you pay it whether or not you have any treatment that year. Even if you rarely see a dentist, having a plan will help, because you never know when something will go wrong.
Dental plans generally cover the basics: root canals, cleanings and X-rays. They do not cover every procedure under the sun. Read your chosen plan carefully to see what is in and what is out. Most plans cover preventive work in full, and around 50% of more complex work.
How Dental Plans Work
Providers offer several types of plan. Choose one based on the coverage it gives you and what you can afford. If the dentist you want is inside the plan's network, or you have no particular dentist in mind and are happy to pick one from the network, you can buy a cheaper plan. If the dentist you want sits outside the network, coverage will cost you considerably more.
What Kind of Dental Plan Would Be Best for You?
There is no standard answer. It depends entirely on your own dental needs.
Keep these three things in mind when you compare plans.
- How many dentists are in the provider's network?
- How much would you save over a year?
- Should you go for an independent dental plan provider, or a government-offered plan?
The plan you choose today stays with you for a year, so make an informed decision. Ask questions, do your research, and talk it over with family, friends or your dentist.
Here are five questions worth asking before you buy a dental plan.
Q. What Annual and Biannual Preventive Services Are Covered?
This is the most important question of the lot. Be certain about what your plan covers, or you will end up spending more than you save.
If you need major work such as root canals or crowns, it may pay to buy a slightly more expensive plan that covers those treatments properly. Either way, check that routine preventive care is included.
Q. Am I Allowed to Choose My Own Dentist?
Some plans let you, some do not. Ask the provider up front whether you are free to choose your own dentist. If you are, check whether there is an extra charge and how much it comes to.
Sometimes the extra charge is steep enough to cancel out the point of having a plan. If you have a dentist you trust, it is often better to pay a little more for a plan that includes them from the start.
Q. What Are the Deductibles, Copayments and Other Out-of-Pocket Expenses?
A deductible is the amount you pay before an insurance plan starts covering you. Discount dental plans have no deductible at all, which is one of the clearest differences between the two. Some insurance plans waive the deductible on routine check-ups and X-rays.
A copayment is a fixed amount the patient pays towards a procedure, with the rest picked up by the provider.
Learn what these terms mean and what they will cost you over a year. Compare the total cost across plans before you decide.
Q. Is My Coverage Limited to the Cheapest Available Treatment Options?
Ask whether you can choose a different dentist or a different treatment from the one the plan suggests. Some plans will not pay for any dentist outside their network. Others let you pick a better, more expensive treatment as long as you cover the difference.
Q. Is There a Procedure and Waiting Period for Emergency Dental Care?
Some plans need prior authorization before emergency treatment can go ahead. Others have no waiting period at all. If there is a process, find out exactly how a claim gets approved. Get this straight now, so there is no confusion in the middle of an emergency.
Compare the discount dental plans on this site to work out which one fits your needs and your budget.
