People avoid the dentist for several reasons. For example, nine to 15% of the American population suffers a serious dental phobia.
Unfortunately for many others, the main obstacle to dental care is the high cost of treatment.
One way to overcome this is with a dental insurance plan. However, as you begin shopping for a dental insurance play, you will realize they aren’t all created equal.
It is up to you to consider the options and find the one that best suits your needs. Keep reading for some tips to help you find the right dental insurance coverage for your needs and budget.
Consider Each Family Member’s Needs
Every person in your family requires basic, preventive care. This includes things like:
- Cleanings
- Exams
- X-rays
However, people of different ages may require different services and types of treatment, according to sites like Boisedentist.com.
For example, your children may require services like sealants, fluoride treatments, and braces. Adults in your family may require services like root canals or wisdom teeth removal.
Seniors may need the services adults do, along with dentures and tooth extractions.
Find Out if Group Coverage Is Possible
Most people with dental insurance receive benefits through their employer or another group coverage program, such as the military, TriCare, Medicaid, AARP, etc.
Usually, these plans are more affordable than purchasing insurance individually and typically offer better benefits. While this is true, make sure to look at the details of employer-sponsored plans.
The details can help you determine if the premiums are worth the money for your situation.
Look for Bigger Dental Networks
It’s challenging to evaluate one plan compared to another based on the reimbursement levels. This is especially the case when you don’t know the type of treatment you will require down the road.
The most common plan types, called Dental PPOs or DPPOs, have provider networks that are simple to evaluate – in most cases, the bigger the network, the better it will be.
One example is the Guardian DPPO network. This program has more than 120K dentists and 430K locations. With this many options, you will likely be able to find an in-network dentist relatively easily.
If this factor is important to you, be sure you check with your current dentist to find out what insurance plans they take before you buy any coverage.
Consider All Related Dental Plan Costs
When you begin to compare different family dental insurance plans, the cost or premium will likely be a top consideration. Make sure you also look at other related costs.
For example, what is the deductible? This is what you must pay out of pocket for a dental service before your insurance will kick in.
Another essential consideration is the maximum yearly limit. Usually, insurance companies will cap the amount they pay each year for dental treatment.
Once the annual cap is reached, you will be responsible for additional costs that are incurred. This is extremely important, especially if someone in your family has serious or ongoing dental issues.
Look Into Individual Policies
Individual dental policies are more expensive than the group policies mentioned above. This is true whether you are buying a policy just for yourself or for your entire family.
There are other drawbacks of individual policies, too. For example, benefits are limited, and insured parties usually have to wait to approve major treatments or procedures.
If you plan to sign up for a plan when you need new dentures or implants, this won’t work out. Insurers are aware of people trying to do this and typically have a waiting period before using specific benefits. This waiting period can last from a few months up to a year.
The total time you must wait depends on the procedure. While this is true, some plans don’t have waiting periods. These are great options, but you will pay more for them.
Find Information About Available Discounts
With DPPO plans, you may be able to see any dentist, but it will usually be worth it to see a dentist in the network. That’s because the insurance company will negotiate discounted fees for customers.
An example of this is if your dentist usually charges $100 for a filling. If you go to a dentist in-network, you may only be charged between $60 and $70, even if you haven’t met the set deductible yet.
The discount negotiated varies based on the network and company you choose. Be sure to shop around to find the most savings possible.
Consider Dental Savings or Discount Plans
With a discount dental plan, you can join a group where you see discounts on some services. Because these aren’t insurance plans, you don’t have to worry about premiums or copays.
Instead, you can receive savings at different dentists when you pay them for their services directly. This can result in several hundred dollars in savings.
Finding the Best Dental Insurance Plan
Finding the best dental insurance plan takes time and effort. You can use the tips and information above to find a plan that suits your needs and your budget.
Be sure to keep this in mind and take your time to compare policies to find one that is right for you.
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