Dental Insurance Plans - How to Choose the Right One

Dental insurance plans are designed to cover the costs of dental care. They pay a portion of the charges from dentists, orthodontists, hospitals and all other providers of dental care. By doing so, dental insurance protects people from financial hardship caused by unexpected dental expenses.

Sadly, as stated by the American Dental Association (ADA), less than half of the United States population is covered by any dental insurance plans. It seems that people who have dental coverage, purchase it mainly through the companies they work for as part of their health insurance plan. You should consider having a compatible program to fill in the gaps between the two plans depending upon what type of health insurance you have. That may save money while allowing you to take advantage of receiving necessary preventive care.

That said, dental insurance plans are not highly desirable by a lot of dentists. This is because it generally means less pay for more work (especially paperwork). It is important to not over-insure nor under-insure so it is important to assess your situation when purchasing adequate coverage. Restrictions such as pre-existing conditions are and just about all dental insurance plans so it is important to keep this in mind.

Dental Health Maintenance Organization (DHMO) and Preferred Provider Organizations are the most frequent sort of dental insurance plans. Both types are considered managed care, and each dental insurance plan has benefits and disadvantages.

All fees are generally not covered because even though dentists provide their services for these plans and have agreed upon amount that they will charge the insurance companies, there are still a few fees left unpaid. The difference between what the dentist charges and what the dental insurance plans cover is what is referred to as the "co-pay". Additionally, there may be an annual maximum amount that the dental insurance plans will pay.

Dental insurance plans, where you're dentists is part of the PPO and that your employer pays the monthly premiums are extremely attractive.

Dental insurance plans based on medical HMOs are called DHMOs, and they are another option. Each person enrolled in these dental insurance plans may choose any dentist available by that program. However, by comparison to a PPO, dentists may not be held to spend as much time with each patient and may end up providing services below cost. In a DHMO, volume matters more than quality, and so dentists are often driven to spend less time with their patients. Although a patient will be seen and treated, the relationship with the dentist is not developed due to lack of time. If you want to be seen by a dentist who takes time with his or her patients, this may not be your optimum dental insurance plan.

Non-Insurance Dental Plans... An Alternative to Dental Insurance Plans

These non-insurance programs, commonly referred to as Discount Plans or Reduced-Fee-For-Service Plans, offer access to dental care at a lower rate from participating dental providers. Beginning in the early 1990s, dental programs such as these off her members a variety of dental services such as exams, fillings, braces and routine cleanings at a reduced rate. Members typically receive a discount of 30%-35% off retail prices.

Unlike traditional indemnity-based dental insurance, discount dental plans have no annual limits, no health restrictions and no paperwork. In exchange, members pay either a monthly or yearly membership fee. These dental plans will provide a price list on either their website or in membership materials so that consumers know that they are receiving the savings that they were promised.

A typical discount plan, for example, would direct you to a dentist that has agreed to charge a discounted rate, say $700 for a crown instead of $800.

Individuals, groups and families that want to save money are the people that these discount dental plans are geared towards. Dental providers participating in these plans have agreed to accept a discounted fee as payment-in-full for services performed for a plan members. The date if the plan becomes active areas from the signing date up to five business days.

Even if you have a discount dental plan, if you are not covered by any dental insurance plans, you might be liable to dental providers for a substantial amount of money. For example, if you have a $2000 dental bill and receive a 25% discount, you would still be liable for $1500. Furthermore, you must be prepared to pay your entire dental bill on the spot, because payment is due when the dental work is completed.

Before Purchasing a Discount Dental Plan

Whether you choose one of the many traditional indemnity-based dental insurance plans or a non-insurance discount dental plan, you should know the answers to everything below before purchasing, because the national Association of dental plans (NADP) has conducted studies that showed that 68% of all consumers pay too much for their dental coverage.

*** Obtain a list of participating dental providers in your ZIP/area code

*** Contact each provider that you intend to visit to make sure they still participate in the plan

*** If you are interested in having a procedure done, ask the provider with the normal fee is

*** Confirm that the provider offers the reduced fees

Be aware that dental-discount plans are not regulated by state insurance departments. However, just because they are not regulated by the state does not mean that they aren't legitimate but you should remain cautious when signing up in one. You should ask if a licensed insurance company is offering the product and verify with the insurance company if you are unsure if you are purchasing insurance or not. There is now a state licensed dental discount plan available in California and Arizona.

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