If you are like most people, the price of dental insurance seems high
You pay monthly premiums to have care and maintenance done when necessary, and often times you don’t even get reimbursed after the deductible is met. That seems like an extremely high price to pay, but there are ways that you can lower your dental insurance bill and have more dental benefits at the same time. There are dental plans that offer low premiums for a variety of dental treatments, many of which are not covered by dental insurance companies. In order to get these dental plans, you first need to do some research into what dental insurance companies offer, the different dental plans they offer, and how much dental insurance coverage each plan offers.
What exactly is full coverage dental plans?
What exactly do a complete coverage dental plan cover, and how much does such a dental plan cost? Full coverage dental plans include dental plans that will cover you for major and preventative dental care, as well as orthodontic and specific dental procedures. Many dental plans will also provide coverage for after dental care such as braces, dentures, root canals, dental implants, dental surgery, dental implants, orthodontics, dental supplies, dental surgeries, caps and dentures, lab work, and more. Of course, the prices you pay for such dental plans vary greatly depending on what dental care is included. While some dental plans may only cover the most basic procedures, other dental plans may be so extensive that you will need to purchase annual maximums or other dental insurance packages.
If you work for an employer or are getting dental insurance coverage as an individual, the first thing you should do is call your employer and inquire about dental insurance. Often times, an existing dental insurance plan provided by your employer may be able to be continued, or even added to, at your expense. However, an employer may pay for the dental insurance policy only if your company covers other types of benefits (e.g., vision and dental insurance). If you have dental coverage paid for through your employer, you might as well check out the different options your employer has to provide dental insurance.
Check out your offers before deciding for dental plan
Next, check out the costs of various dental services offered by your local dental provider. Most dental providers will offer a basic dental package that consists of basic cleaning procedures, fluoride treatment, x-rays, caps and dentures, tooth whitening, filling materials and veneers, as well as minor dental procedures like root canal treatment and sealants. If you don’t already have a dental provider, it’s still possible to get a dental plan. When shopping for dental plans, keep in mind that dental providers usually charge a co-payment; however, the cost will depend on your current dental health. Some dental providers will allow you to pay a higher co-payment for preventative care, but expect to pay a much higher premium for standard preventive care.
Review the difference and accumulate/calculate the cost
Finally, review the different dental benefits you’re currently receiving under your employer’s insurance plan and compare those with the different dental benefits offered by different companies. For example, some insurance companies cover major dental procedures like tooth extraction, root canal treatment, crowns, extractions, braces and other dental work, while others do not. Some insurance plans require you to wait a certain amount of time before you can get dental benefits, while others won’t limit your choices. Find out what exactly your insurance plan covers and make sure there is a choice for getting routine dental care and other preventative services, such as cleanings and fluoride treatments. If your employer provides dental insurance but doesn’t cover dental benefits, you can probably find additional coverage elsewhere.
In some cases, your employer offers dental coverage as part of their benefits. Check with your employer to learn more about whether they have dental benefit packages available. In most cases, the benefits will be obtained at the same discounted rate you would get with a group plan. However, in order to get the best value, you may need to purchase a dental policy right from the beginning. Find out what options you have for purchasing a dental policy directly from your employer and find out how much it would cost to purchase dental insurance with them.