Everyone knows the importance of having health insurance, dental insurance on the other hand, not so much. For some, it is an unnecessary expense. This leads to the question - is it worth the expense?
Getting dental health insurance should be a no-brainer. In a similar manner that medical insurance often saves you money in the long and short term, dental health does the same. If monthly premiums are low, you pay a higher deductible and vice versa.
Dental Health Insurance Explained
Here's a breakdown of how individual dental insurance works. You select a plan based on the dentist (providers) you can afford to pay and would be able to visit.
If you have a dentist you prefer and they are in the insurance companies' network, you can simply choose one of their less expensive plans.
If your current dentist is not on a company's network, you can still purchase insurance. However, you would have to pay more for an out-of-network provider (often so much more than purchasing insurance).
If you do not have a dentist, this is actually good. You get to choose from any of the dentists who are in-network and the option of an inexpensive plan.
Note that monthly premiums will depend mainly on location, the plan you choose and the insurance company.
How to choose a dental insurance plan
There are a lot of dental health insurance plans available. Before selecting one, you should know how plan is designed since this would affect out-of-pocket expenses and plans coverage. Here are things to look out for:
1.Know what the policy covers
Carefully reviewing the policy you are considering is important - it will help you in drawing up a budget for dental expenses. Some of the things you would need to know include when the insurance begins, does it cover root canal and oral surgery, restorations, denture repairs, gum cleaning, and so on. When can you get the benefits of coverage for gum disease treatments like dentures, dental implants, cast or crown restoration for gum disease treatments?
2.Coverage limit
With some policies, if you or a family member needs major dental work done, you most probably would have to pay for more than half of the cost. As with most individual or group policies, benefit varies and are often limited.
3. Check out the list of dentists in the network
If you choose an indemnity insurance plan, you get to choose the dentist of your choice but if you go with the common HMO and PPO plans, you are limited to dentists in your provider's network. If you have a preferred dentist, you should ask for the discounts or insurance plans that he accepts.
If you do not mind a new dentist, HMO or PPO might be best for you. However, be extremely suspicious over a new dentist you visit, who pushes a great deal of unexpected dental treatments. You could also ask friends, family and healthcare professionals to recommend a trusted local dentist - then research what discount plans and insurance that these practitioners can accept.
4.Looking into the waiting period of the policy
Whether you're buying a policy for your family or just for yourself, most policies come with a waiting period for major procedures. Insurance companies know that some individuals would sign up for a plan just in time - because they need a new set of dentures or requiring implants. This is why insurance companies put a waiting period that can be up to a year before certain benefits can be enjoyed.
To get the best comparison, get the policy details and price quotes from multiple insurance companies’ websites or talk to an experienced insurance agent.
5. Check to see if group coverage is offered
Most people with dental insurance get it through their employer or group coverage programs like the Affordable Care Act ( AARP) or public programs like children's health programs and Medicaid.
These plans are typically less expensive than individual insurance and often come with better benefits. However, even if your plan is employer-sponsored, you should still check out to ascertain that it is right for you.
Misty Jhones