How to Get the Best Deal and Practical Dental Insurance Plans

It is rather disappointing that dental health is not fully covered by medical insurance, well not unless it was medically necessary, especially when you have to spend over 500 dollars, and waste hours of your day, trying only to diagnose the problem, let alone fix it. We all agree that oral health is important, despite how expensive it could get to repair our teeth. 

This urges us, the people who are in a pressing need of oral care, to look for budget-friendly dental insurance plans. Here are some ideas on where to start:

Preferred Provider Organizations (PPO)

You’ll have a regular plan provided by an insurance company contracted with a panel of dentists, and they will provide services and charge less than, the usual fees to a specific patient or patients. Bear in mind that dentists, who are not bound by any contract, could fee you higher or lower than the plan’s dictations.

Capitation plans

This is a much an extensive plan, covering examinations, x-rays, fillings, root and canal extractions for lower costs. This plan follows the belief that it costs less to prevent a disease than to treat it.

Hence, it provides full coverage on preventive treatments and diagnosis, and also multi-year guarantees. As this plan is more comprehensive, you might expect to pay more each month. This largely depends on your dental health and record.

Exclusive Provider Organizations (EPO)

Exclusive provider organizations will cost you less than capitation plans or PPO plans. You will use doctors and hospitals in its network, and you can’t go outside it; if you do, the outside-of-EPO provider services won’t be covered by your insurance. However, you won’t get referrals to go to specialists, which will make the process a lot faster.

Indemnity plans

Indemnity plans let you choose your own dentist, unlike Capitation, or PPO plans, which might be suitable for people who already know and go to a dentist, and want to continue seeing him/her.

However, this plan requires you to pay for the services provided in advance, and the insurance company will reimburse you later. You may not get your whole money of course, but good insurance plans will give you 50%-80% of your money back. 

Points of Service (POS) plans

Members of this plan can go out of the provider’s network and look for treatment from a provider that is out of the network. When patients go out of network for health care services, they will pay most of the costs and may even pay more than what they usually pay. Patients will find themselves handling co-insurance, co-payments, and annual deductibles.

As you might have concluded from the previous points, there are a variety of insurance plans out there, but you’re still confused as to which one you should choose. You can find plans here that might help you choose the one that suits your needs and budget, compare insurance plans, and provide you with all the information related to any plan.

Direct Reimbursement (DR)

Direct reimbursement is a self-funded dental plan and has nothing to do with insurance. The patient chooses the dentist they wish to go to, then pay the full fees directly to him. No premiums will be paid to an insurance company.

Instead, he submits the receipt or proof of treatment to his employer, and the designated employer will reimburse the patient according to the plan. For example, an employer may reimburse 100% of any costs, and a smaller percentage of other costs.

Private Medical Insurance (PMI)

You might also want to opt for other options like private medical insurance for the few benefits that it may offer and may not be found elsewhere. It offers a short waiting time, a private room instead of a shared one, and a private bathroom as well.

You’d be surprised to find that a number of private medical insurance cover dental care and that it is similar to dental insurance in many aspects, as you can be reimbursed for treatments.

Discount/referral plans

A company might contract a network of dentists who agree to charge fewer fees and sell plans to its employees. Patients will pay all costs, according to the plan without any dental claim forms. Discount plans are different from dental insurance because in the former, the dentists provide discounts for patients and they don’t get reimbursed.

Indeed, It is great to save money for important matters, especially when it comes to dental insurance. There are a variety of great plans for you to choose from  and certainly, you will find the one that best fits your needs and budget.

Think it over, and don’t let your dental health deteriorate to the point that it causes continuing pain. Dental health is as important as medical health so invest enough money on your comfort and well-being.