Dental insurance plans are insurance designed to pay the costs associated with dental care. Dental insurance pays a portion of the bills from dentists, hospitals, and other providers of dental services. This helps people protect themselves from extreme financial hardship due to unanticipated expenses for dental care.
The American Dental Association states that more than half of the population in the United States are not covered by any dental insurance plan. Those who do have dental coverage often get it through their employer as part of their health insurance plan. Depending upon the type of medical coverage you have, it may be a good idea to have a compatible program to eliminate any gaps or overlap within the two plans. The main benefit of doing this is that you will probably save money and, at the same time, be able to take advantage of receiving preventive dental 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). So that you can receive the benefits that you need while not paying for features that you will not use, it is important to assess your situation and purchase 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. PPOs and DHMOs are both types of managed care and, therefore, both dental insurance plans have disadvantages and advantages.
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. There are deductibles to consider and most of these types of dental insurance plans only pay a percentage of the charges, leaving the patient with a co-pay. Furthermore, dental insurance plans will generally have a maximum amount that they will pay per year.
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, dentists may end up having to provide services at 'below cost' rates, and not be able to spend as much time with each person as a PPO could offer. Working in an HMO setting, the dentist has many more people to see and is compelled to function in an environment where volume matters. Although a patient will be seen and treated, the relationship with the dentist is not developed due to lack of time. A DHMO is probably not one of the dental insurance plans that you want to choose if you want your dentist to spend quality time with you.
Non-Insurance Dental Plans... An Alternative to Dental Insurance Plans
Usually called Discount Plans or Reduced-Fee-For-Service Plans, these non-insurance programs offer subscribers access to quality dental care at a discounted 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. A discount of 30 to 35% is what members typically receive.
Contrast to traditional indemnity-based and dental insurance, these discounted dental plans have no annual limits, no health restrictions and essentially no paperwork. In exchange, members pay either a monthly or yearly membership fee. Most of these plans provide a price list or fee schedule with the discounted dental fees and/or costs listed either on their web site or in membership materials to ensure consumers receive the savings they were promised.
For example, your typical discount plan would point you to a dentist who has agreed to participate in the plan that would only charge, say, $650 for a crown instead of the standard rate of $800 to $900.
Discount dental plans are configured for groups, families and individuals that wish to save money for their dental care. Participating providers have agreed to accept a discounted fee from plan members as payment-in-full for services performed. Discount plans activate anywhere from the same day one enrolls to five business days later.
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
You should know the answers to all of the questions below before you purchase any type of dental coverage, whether you are choosing a non-insurance discount plan or are one of the many traditional indemnity-based dental insurance plans.
*** Ask for a list of participating providers in your area/zip code
*** Contact each provider that you intend to visit to make sure they still participate in the plan
*** Ask the provider the normal fees are for anything you are interested in having done
*** Confirm that the provider offers the reduced fees
Understand that dental discount plans are not subject to regulation by state insurance departments. That said, the fact that they are not regulated, doesn't mean that they aren't legitimate... just be cautious. 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. California and Arizona, both now offer state licensed dental discount plans.
Article Source: http://www.orbitaloc.com/
Ed Brancheau, aka The Insurance Egghead, guides businesses, families and individuals toward finding dental insurance plans. His website, The Insurance Egghead, has pages and pages of free guides, articles and advice about every type of insurance: health, dental, vision, accident and life.
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