Dental Insurance

Dental Insurance Advantages

It is important that you do seek dental coverage of some kind to ensure the health of your teeth and gums. Unfortunately, if you have to pay the full cost of dental care, you may find it difficult paying your dentist bills. Perhaps even more seriously, without dental insurance coverage, you may be tempted to skip regular cleanings and checkups, a decision that could lead to serious dental health problems.

How Dental Insurance Works

Dental insurance works in much the same way that medical insurance works. For a specific monthly rate (or "premium"), you are entitled to certain dental benefits, usually including regular checkups, cleanings, x-rays, and certain services required to promote general dental health. Some plans will provide broader coverage than others and some will require a greater financial contribution on your part when services are rendered. Some plans may also provide coverage for certain types of oral surgery, dental implants, or orthodontia.

Dental Insurance Plan Types

Like health insurance plans, dental insurance plans are usually categorized as either Indemnity or managed-care plans (Dental PPO plans fit in this latter category). Put broadly, the major differences concern choice of dental care providers, out-of-pocket costs and how bills are paid. Typically, Indemnity plans offer a broader selection of dental care providers than managed-care plans. Indemnity plans pay their share of the costs for covered services only after they receive a bill (which means that you may have to pay up front and then obtain reimbursement from your insurance company).

Managed-care plans typically maintain dental provider networks. Dentists participating in a network agree to perform services for patients at pre-negotiated rates and usually will submit the claim to the dental insurance company for you. In general, you'll have less paperwork and lower out-of-pocket costs with a managed-care dental plan and a broader choice of dentists with an Indemnity plan.

Typically, Indemnity plans offer a broader selection of dental care providers than managed-care plans. With an indemnity plan, the carrier pays for covered services only after it receives a bill, which means that you may have to pay up front and then obtain reimbursement from your insurance carrier later.

Managed-care plans typically maintain dental provider networks. Dentists participating in a network agree to perform services for patients at pre-negotiated rates and usually will submit the claim to the dental insurance company for you. In general, you'll have less paperwork and lower out-of-pocket costs with a managed-care dental plan and a broader choice of dentists with an Indemnity plan.

Which Dental Insurance Plan is Correct For Me?

Although there is no one "best" dental insurance plan, some plans may work better for you and your family than others. Plans differ primarily in how much you'll have to pay monthly for your coverage and how much you'll have to pay when dental services are rendered. Some plans will require that you pay a certain co-payment for services, or meet a specific deductible before the dental insurance company begins payment. Other plans may limit coverage to a specific dollar-amount maximum per year.

When reviewing your dental insurance options, here are a few questions to ask yourself:

• How much will it cost me on a monthly basis?
• Will I be required to meet a deductible? Once the deductible is met, how much will the dental insurance provider pay for my services?
• What dentists participate in the plan's network? Are these dentists that my family and I would like to see?
• If I used a dentist outside the plan's network, how much will I have to pay?
• Are there waiting periods for certain procedures?

It is important to have a dental insurance plan that meets your needs and can fit into your budget as well. Here at BestHealthquote.com we have all the resources you need to find exactly what your looking for. Get your free online dental insurance quote today!