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: Sat May 10, 2008 01:11 am Post Subject: dental
Thanks..i will look into it. Humana?..never heard of it. Is it Medical, Dental, etc.? :roll:
Posted: Tue May 13, 2008 08:53 pm Post Subject:
Humana?..never heard of it. Is it Medical, Dental, etc.?
Humana offers both individual and group health insurance, as well as, dental insurance. Humana Dental Insurance company is one of the 10 largest dental insurance providers in the United States.
Your only problem with buying a "dental insurance" policy at this poing is the "waiting period" for pre-existing conditions. Somewhere I think I read that you had alread been to a dentist and received an estimate on your proposed dental work, is that right or did I read that on Yahoo?
Anyway, a new dental insurance plan will more than likely require a 3-6-12 month waiting period before you can get this dental work done.
You will also be limited to the dollar amount of dental work that you can get done in a year (like $1,500 or less).
Discount dental plans require that you pay the dentist at the time you get the work done, but sometimes the savings on the reduced fees is just amazing.
Maze
Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 10:50 am Post Subject: dental
Yep..MAZE. I DID get an 'estimate' from a local dentist, on how much all my dental work would be. However.....I just found out Tricare (Military Insurance) has a Dental plan for Reserves and National Guard. Ya see, my problem was, Tricare would have covered me if i was on Active Duty 'status' ( ie..overseas). NOW..I found out us 'part-timers' can be covered, too!! The Health care, part of it, I;m not really worried about. It is the Dental part. Would ya believe it..i would pay $11.00-$20.00, per month and it comes out of my Military pay!! They would pay for 50% of dentures ( if I needed them) and 50% of retainers ( if I needed them. Pay 80% of 'extrations'. And everthing else is 100% covered!! I'll tell ya, I was thrilled when I found this out!!
Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 12:49 pm Post Subject:
They would pay for 50% of dentures ( if I needed them) and 50% of retainers ( if I needed them. Pay 80% of 'extrations'. And everthing else is 100% covered!! I'll tell ya, I was thrilled when I found this out!!
Wow, I bet you're thrilled. It's good to know that all of the Tricare benefits are also available to those in the reserves or national guard.
P.S. This would be a good article for your Military Insurance Blog.
Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 04:30 am Post Subject: insurance
OHH...I agree, MAZE!! I KNEW the military had Tricare that covered 'part-timers' ( me), but, i din't know I could purchase a dental policy seperate from medical. I sure will add this to my Blog, when I'm not so tired and I can see straight!!LOL
Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 05:33 am Post Subject:
I hate to disagree, but the truth of the matter is that dental insurance is a total rip. Your better off going into the dentist office and negotiating a price. Look at the premiums compared to the Maximum benefits... Its just not worth it...
$400 a year for a max payout of $1,500... Makes not sense... Your could reduce the cost of your bill by $1,500 with a simple question asked... "Hey can we reduce that by $1,500"... Simple as that....
Just look at health insurance... Lets say $2,000 a yr with an unlimited payout... Thats real Insurance...
My Opinion (And Ive been doing this for a while now) Dental Insurance is just not worth it. Its the same as asking for a discount.
Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 03:41 pm Post Subject:
You may be paying the $400 a year but that $400 is saving you ~$1100 total not to mention that dental plans negotiate prices so you also save money there. Sure you can talk and negotiate with the dentist yourself but may not get as good of a negotiated price.
Going with the discount dental plans is basically just getting the negotiated lower price and most of those you can get for $75-200 a year.
Dental insurance or the discount dental plans are worth it since they help lower your overall expenses. Yes you can negotiate a discount price but you don't necessarily have the same pull as the insurance companies. And even though you get a lower price with the insurance you can still negotiate for lower prices still.
And grapeshot is basically like bird shot in a shotgun except it was used in canons and were about the size of musket balls.
Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 06:20 pm Post Subject:
Hypothetically your concept may work, but in real life dentists will give you the same discount.
If my clients tell me they want dental insurance I tell them I wont sell it, I wont sell a product just to sell a product, its just not good.
Truth of the matter is that dentist will negotiate with anyone, they rather make a little bit over some dentures than nothing.
When you come in with a discount/insurance card you have lost your negotiation power. Im sure there are many seniors who have been able to negotiate the price of dental work and end up paying less than the price on someone who is paying a premium, I would venture to say most seniors are better off without dental insurance.
Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 12:40 am Post Subject: dental
BROKERDEALER........I don't know if you are familiar with Ticare ( Military Benefits..dental and health). I'm sure you are, however. Tricare is just that.for Military personnel ONLY!! I've looked at other plans ( on the 'civilain side') I haven't found ANYTHING like Tricare at all. They pay for 100% of EVERYTHING.....50% of dentures ( if you need them). So..if somone needs alot of dental work and REALLY can't pay out of their pocket, then what do you suggest? ALOT of dentists will not let you make payments to them.
Posted: Tue May 20, 2008 12:46 am Post Subject:
Actually alot of dentist will allow you to make payment arrangements, as long as your credit is decent and they prefer to setup the arrangements ahead of time.
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