by avengerki » Tue Apr 29, 2008 08:47 pm
What are the dental insurance plans to go for?
Dental insurance plans are primarily of 2 types:
Indemnity/fee-for-service plans
This plan allows the insured to pick a dental care professional of his choice from the existing network of the insurance company. The claim may be then forwarded to the insurance company. You will be reimbursed for part or all of your dental care as mentioned in the policy. This plan may be favorable for those who seek more options in dental care.
Managed Care plans:
Managed care is classified into:
Dental plans too, like so many other policies can be opted either under individual plans and group plans.
Individual Dental Insurance:
Individual dental insurance is a very popular form of coverage and is sold directly by the insurance company to its client. However, this policy is not easy to find. Some employers may provide such coverage. Insurance companies often sell these plans as “referral plans” and sometimes also as “buyers' clubs”.
Group Dental Insurance
It is recommended by experts that you should get a group dental insurance if you can. It costs less than an individual dental insurance policy and also provides the most comprehensive care. There are several group dental plans where you may also declare dependents in which case you may be allowed to insure your entire family. This group dental plan helps in reducing the cost of dental care to a great extent.
What are the benefits of a group dental insurance policy?
In a group dental insurance policy, the insurance provider offers coverage for an entire group instead of an individual alone. The benefits include:
Family Dental Insurance
Family dental insurance is an effective plan created for couples and their children. Such plans may also offer free or low cost service for younger children in your family. Costs for check ups, cleaning, dental x-rays, orthodontics, fillings, and root canals may be lowered as a result of this family dental insurance. Many employers too may offer such a family plan for their employees. If not you can get one on your own.
Family dental insurance has 3 major types:
Dental insurance plans are primarily of 2 types:
- 1. Indemnity plans
2. Managed Care Plans
Indemnity/fee-for-service plans
This plan allows the insured to pick a dental care professional of his choice from the existing network of the insurance company. The claim may be then forwarded to the insurance company. You will be reimbursed for part or all of your dental care as mentioned in the policy. This plan may be favorable for those who seek more options in dental care.
Managed Care plans:
Managed care is classified into:
- Dental Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) Insurance Plan: The PPO plan allows individuals to avail treatment and discounts from dentists who are a part of a network. This insurance plan allows you to visit dentists outside the network too, but in this case it may cost you more than what your plan covers.
- Dental Health Maintenance Organization (DHMO) Insurance Plans: There is a group of dentists who are part of the network formed by the DHMO. Only individuals covered under family DHMO or individual DHMO can avail the services. If you are not a part of the same plan then you are not entitled to any coverage.
- Dental Point of Service (POS) Insurance Plans: In this plan there are 2 options. You can either visit a dentist who is part of the insurance plan network or you may visit a dentist outside the insurance plan network. If you choose to visit a dentist who is outside the network, you will end up paying more.
Dental plans too, like so many other policies can be opted either under individual plans and group plans.
Individual Dental Insurance:
Individual dental insurance is a very popular form of coverage and is sold directly by the insurance company to its client. However, this policy is not easy to find. Some employers may provide such coverage. Insurance companies often sell these plans as “referral plans” and sometimes also as “buyers' clubs”.
Group Dental Insurance
It is recommended by experts that you should get a group dental insurance if you can. It costs less than an individual dental insurance policy and also provides the most comprehensive care. There are several group dental plans where you may also declare dependents in which case you may be allowed to insure your entire family. This group dental plan helps in reducing the cost of dental care to a great extent.
What are the benefits of a group dental insurance policy?
In a group dental insurance policy, the insurance provider offers coverage for an entire group instead of an individual alone. The benefits include:
- Insurance providers who offer group insurance mostly charge lower monthly or yearly premiums. The entire group in this insurance policy helps keep the dental insurance costs down.
- Individual plans and many discount plans cover preventive and diagnostic care. But group dental insurance plans allow the insured to cover their family members, major dental work, orthodontic treatments and children.
- Group dental insurance plans often offer their members a wide range of services. Special discounts on family plans, special offers on individual plans for single employees, and special plans for employees who are in need of extra care. Many insurance providers offer such plans in a group policy that meets the requirements of individual members. This means that the insured (you) can get the benefits at prices that is affordable for them.
- Employers can retain more employees if they provide such benefits like dental coverage. Companies and organizations offering such group dental insurance may be entitled to or may claim tax benefits as a result.
Family Dental Insurance
Family dental insurance is an effective plan created for couples and their children. Such plans may also offer free or low cost service for younger children in your family. Costs for check ups, cleaning, dental x-rays, orthodontics, fillings, and root canals may be lowered as a result of this family dental insurance. Many employers too may offer such a family plan for their employees. If not you can get one on your own.
Family dental insurance has 3 major types:
- Family Managed Care Dental Insurance – Many individuals go for managed care insurance because the out-of-pocket costs for family dental DHMO and PPO becomes lesser with every visit. However, in this case you need to visit a dentist who is part of the approved network.
- Family Indemnity Dental Insurance – This plan gives you the liberty to choose the dentist you or your family members would like to visit. There may be a certain amount of deductible that you will be entitled to pay to receive dental care. You and your family will receive more flexibility in terms of benefits and services with this plan.
- Family Discount Dental Plans – The program under family discount dental plans provides many dental services at lower costs. The advantage of such a plan is that as a member you will be provided with a discount card which you may present to the enlisted dentist to avail the discount.
Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 09:41 pm Post Subject:
So basically in my long winded approach here I am asking if anyone has had any experience with the discount dental plans or supplemental insurance and might recommend one.
Take a look at dentalplansonly.com . . .
There are links to locate providers in your area and you can actually see the reduced fee schedule for each dentist.
Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 10:39 am Post Subject:
After you find a plan you like and before you purchase it talk with your dentist to be sure they subscribe to that particular plan...also inquire about things like the dental insurance claim form and the associated documents.
Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 07:01 pm Post Subject:
That is my plan I try to do as much research as possible prior to purchasing anything anymore after getting burned once.
Posted: Sat May 03, 2008 03:20 am Post Subject: dental
I found out alot of the 'supplemental' dental plans my dentist does not accept. I haven't been able to find Dentl Insurance ( except for 'group plans' for employers). Any suggestions/
Posted: Sun May 04, 2008 03:51 am Post Subject:
Just find out which ones they will take, to me the individual dental plans are a wast of money because they are usually designed to take in more premium than to pay out in benefit..
mac
Posted: Sun May 04, 2008 03:58 pm Post Subject:
I went in to see my dentist with a list of different plans and had them tell me which ones they accepted. That way I wasn't using grapeshot to find a plan that they will accept and I like.
Posted: Sun May 04, 2008 11:09 pm Post Subject: dental
That's a good idea. Never thought of doing that. Thanks for the advice.
Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 04:38 pm Post Subject:
I'm dying to know . . . What is "grapeshot"??
Ok, back to dental insurance/dental plans.
Someone made a comment about dental insurance premiums being designed to take in more money than they pay out in benefits.
If your insurance company paid more claims than they took in in insurance premiums, they would be broke and your insurance wouldn't be worth the paper it's printed on.
There is good dental insurance out there, but all dental insurance plans have terms and conditions and policy limits. Most that I have seen have an annual maximum of $1,500 or less. Most have deductibles, co-payments, limited benefits on major dental services, pre-existing conditions, and waiting periods.
A person must understand all of these dental insurance features before deciding on a particular plan.
There are good "Discount" dental plans out there. These discount plans are not dental insurance, therefore, they do not have deductibles, annual maximums, co-payments, pre-existing condition limitations, or waiting periods. These plans are limited by the fact that you must get your dental work done by a network provider. But that's the same with most dental insurance.
We must understand the difference between "dental insurance" and a "discount dental plan".
Maze
Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 02:49 pm Post Subject: dental
Good point, INSMAZE.......I did talk to my dentist. ALOT of the 'dental plans' ......I would have to pay 'out of pocket' for the visit and work done. Then, i would have to send in the paperwork to the 'dental plan.' THEY would send me so much money back. Well.........with the work I NEED done, I can't reallt AFFORD to 'pay out of pocket.' 'Dental Insurance'......I've looked around. I haven't found one that actually has a 'individual' plan. They would mostly be for 'group' plans ( employers, etc.).
Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 05:15 pm Post Subject:
BlueCross BlueShield now has individual dental insurance plans in some areas. Go to bcbs.com and click on "Blue Finder" at the top left.
You may have an individual dental insurance plan in your area.
Also, check Humana.
Maze
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