Choosing the Right Dental Insurance Options for You
Not everyone wants to go to the dentist, but those who do understand the need of dental insurance. Nearly half of the North American working population doesn’t have any at all and oftentimes it is simply integrated into the health insurance of the employee. If you are one of the thousands who have been visited by the tooth fairy, maybe its bout time to choose a type of dental insurance that suits you. Listed here are four types that will help saving you money on dental expenses.
1. Conventional Dental Insurance. The good thing about conventional dental insurance is its similarity to traditional health insurance programs. This means most if not all of your dental expenses will be covered by paying monthly or quarterly premiums and you even have the option of incorporating it with an existing health policy that you already have. You can acquire this by directly negotiating with an insurance agent. Keep in mind though that you can keep costs down even more if you inquire through you’re the company you are working with.
Just like conventional health insurance there maybe certain cases that will not be covered by your policy. It would be wise to study each policy and consult your employer before you decide to buy a dental plan.
2. Dental Reimbursement. This type is very acceptable to both employers and employees who neither would want to pay premiums regularly to an insurance provider. You pay your dental expenses and your employer agrees to pay back the costs up to a particular amount (as much as $1000 a year), hence the term dental reimbursement. Unlike traditional plans the employer is freed from the monthly payments and the employee is not limited to a set of dentists that oftentimes downgrade their services when treating plan holders.
3. Group Voluntary Plans. They say there is strength in numbers, and what could be a better dental insurance plan set up by you and your fellow co-workers? You can inquire your boss about voluntary group dental plan. Your group voluntarily pays all the expenses associated with the plan but since it is coursed through your employer you will be able to get a cheaper rate for you group and even better general benefits.
4. Dental Discount. If you simply want to pay your dental expenses including your dentist at a lower cost, then this plan is right for you. Technically it is not considered as an actual insurance but most companies already offer it as a viable option. Discount plans offer certain services at a lower price point. Therefore the usual $100 consultation or cleaning fee will be reduced to $85 if you plan gives you a 15% discount on that particular service. Discounts vary depending on the complexity or the demand of service being asked. Plans like this usually require an enrollment fee and a recurring monthly fee (but fear not since the fees are generally cheaper than dental insurance premiums).
Before making the big decision though, don’t forget to check the variables yourself. Does your company offer a dental insurance option? Do you have a family or a specific dental history? How many times do you visit a dentist (our guess is regularly)? Whatever your choice is do remember that it will save you money in the long term.
by Maria-Goldsmith 19 years ago