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: Fri Jun 27, 2008 10:17 am Post Subject:
That depends on the individual plan.
Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 01:05 pm Post Subject:
Hi...there are a lot of things to be covered by your plan such as the basic dental costs associated with cleaning, dental checks, treatment of tooth & gum. This would also help towards providing you with a future security. The costs covered could just be part or the entire cost associated till the recovery. Thanks,
Plasticmind
Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 11:04 am Post Subject:
Hi seith, the other posters are absolutely right. Depending upon the type of the plan and the provider, the dental insurance plan covers a wide range of costs associated with oral health care.
It covers the costs of regular dental check-ups, filling the cavities, whitening the teeth, care of the gums, root canals and bridges and so forth. There are dental plans available which covers the costs associated with fitting and maintaining the braces.
With the rising cost of dental care, investment in a good dental plan may save a lot for you in the future, though with an individual plan you may face problem with your budget. Many insurers now a days offer dental plan and health plan as a package. This may help you to lower the cost on individual policies. Also you can check with your employer for health and dental combo pack.
Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 11:16 am Post Subject:
Hi All, thanx for all the info :)
Roddick, I can't go through the employer's plan, as I'm only a sophomore. Is there anything available that will fit into my situation?
It seems that individual plans will be quite expensive.
Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 11:38 am Post Subject:
Can't the students avail the health and dental care policy from their college authority?
Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2008 04:38 am Post Subject:
My insurance through my husbands job covers a different % on each proceedure done and only up to 1000 a year. A root canal can take all of that. However I have found that with a lot of dental work a Dental Discount Plan called Ameriplan is even cheaper than insurance. You can get more info at mybenefitsplus.com/rrolson. Hope this helps.
system edited-link deactivated
Posted: Sat Nov 15, 2008 02:26 pm Post Subject: dental
I thought i would 'throw this out there' , for those in the military....Reserves and National Guard ( to be specific). Tri-Care Dental is wonderful!! I recently purchased it. It REALLY covers quite abit of denatl work.
Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 11:58 pm Post Subject:
I am with WAHm on this one. I didn't relize until recently that our dental only pays out $1500 a year. I haven't had to have a lot of dental work. My hubby who detests dentists has recently started to go and had enough work to keep a dentist in business for a few years LOL. Anyway we got half way to getting him that eprfect smile and now we have to wait until 2009 to finish. They are raisng the total amount of allowed care this coming year but that doesn't help us now. Thank goodness the new year is around the corner.
Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 11:54 am Post Subject: dental
Ya know, FIREYONE. I was scared to death of dentists, at one time!! Never really felt 'comfortable' with any of them. This dentist, I go to now, is wonderful!! VERY understanding, doesn't judge me, etc. I think it's great.
Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 11:36 pm Post Subject:
Thats how my hubby was but I got sick of hearing him whine about a tooth ache ans told him the pity party was over unless he started making good use of his dental insurance. Basically I feel $1500 would cover most yearly debtal work as long as you keep your appointmensts and tackle problems as they accur instaed of waiting for them to build up.
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