Dental Plans
Dental Plans vs. Dental Insurance
Dental plans differ slightly from dental insurance: although the plan may be an agreement between you and an insurance company, it is much simpler and requires less paperwork. With dental insurance, you may have to submit to an exam and prove you have no pre-existing conditions to qualify. With a dental plan, you generally enroll, pay the application fee, and then pay your co-pays or deductibles.
Dental Plan Coverage Details
Like most medical insurance plans, dental insurance plans tend to focus first on preventative care. Most plans will cover basic services provided at six-moth check-ups: teeth cleaning, x-rays, etc (fluoride treatments are generally not covered). You will probably be asked to pay a small co-pay for these visits.
Most plans cover basic procedures. Basic procedures may include fillings, extractions, and in some cases, root canals. “Basic” services can vary depending on your provider. It’s important to check what services are covered by your plan.
Major dental care may be partially covered or not at all covered. While this will once again vary from plan to plan, “major” care generally includes dental surgeries, orthodontics, and dentures work. If you know you have a major dental situation approaching (for example, it’s been recommended that you or a dependant have braces put on to straighten teeth) you would be best to seek a procedure that covers more of these costs.
Most plans will not cover cosmetic procedures. This includes such procedures as whitening and veneers – anything that is done to improve the look over your teeth rather than the health of your teeth.
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Dental Coverage Costs
The first and foremost factor that will affect your dental coverage is simply which plan your employer offers or which plan you choose. Read policies carefully to educate yourself on exactly what is covered and what is not.
As with medical insurance, you may be asked to select your dentist from a network predetermined by your insurance provider. Choosing a dentist outside of this network will result in higher cost and potentially no coverage. When choosing a plan, make sure you look over the dentists selected by your provider and their proximity to your area. If you are currently seeing someone, make sure they are part of your provider’s network. If not, you will more than likely have to switch dentists to keep your costs affordable.
Some plans are bound by maximum benefits. These plans will only cover up to a specific amount of dental care. Once you have exceeded this amount, you will be responsible for the remainder of your dental costs.
Preventative care now could reduce the need for more costly procedures later. Students and younger adults who have already had braces or had wisdom teeth removed and have no dependents can most likely get by with minimum preventative coverage. Parents with young children and people with a history of poor dental health may want to seek a plan with more options.
Ask for a dental plan quote today!
Last Updated : Tuesday, August 14, 2007