Dental Insurance
A Consumer's Perspective . . .
The #1 attraction of "dental insurance" is that (in most cases) you may use any dentist for covered services.
However, individual dental insurance plans contain deductibles and waiting periods, which limit the amount of your potential insurance reimbursement in the first year. You are also responsible for "co-insurance" (a portion of the cost) on "basic" and "major" dental procedures.
Virtually all dental insurance plans contain an annual limit on coverage. In addition, your potential insurance reimbursement is subject to a "Maximum Allowable Charge" (MAC) for each procedure.
In short, don't count on "coming out ahead" with individual or family dental insurance. It would be rare to obtain more dollars in insurance benefits than you pay in premiums.
For some savvy consumers, dental insurance may be a way to finance dental care. For an employer, this insurance can be an employee benefit for one or more key people.
If you will be going onto an employer's group plan soon, an individual dental insurance plan may help to satisfy any possible waiting period on the group dental plan. Note: the laws regulating group dental plans vary from state to state and by type of plan. Before using an individual dental plan to help "jump-start" your benefits when joining a group dental plan, be sure to consult with your employer's insurance or human resources department.
Compare Discount Dental Plans to Dental Insurance...
The following is a brief summary for comparison purposes only.
Discount Dental Plan = See Discount dental plans comparison page
Dental Insurance = "Secure Dental One" Dental Insurance (Classic Plan)
For Individuals And Families
| Feature | A Sample of Plans Discount Dental Plans |
Secure Classic One Dental Insurance |
| Sample Monthly Cost |
Individual - $6.95 to $11.95 | Individual - $22.00 to $34.00 Varies by Zip Code |
| Dentists | Must use network dentists. | May use any dentist (except orthodontics). |
| Savings | Published discounted fees. 10% to 60% off most procedures. |
Benefits up to $750 per year, subject to deductible and co-insurance. |
| Wait Required for Savings | No waits required. Start immediately. |
No wait for preventative. 6 month wait for basic. 12 month wait for major. |
| Deductible | None. | $100 lifetime deductible. |
| Feature | A Sample of Plans Discount Dental Plans |
Secure Classic One Dental Insurance |
| Annual Savings Limit | No limit | $750.00 |
| Forms Needed? |
No | Yes, Claim Forms Needed |
| How Quickly Can You Begin? | You may usually begin immediately |
Begins the 1st of the month following receipt of application and payment. |
Dental Insurance - the main advantage of is that (normally) you can go to any dentist for covered services.
Dental Insurance - The disadvantages are (1) monthly cost, (2) long waiting periods, (3) annual benefit limits, (4) deductibles, (5) claim forms to file, and (6) limits on coverage and re-imbursements for major procedures ("maximum allowable charge").
Discount Dental Plans - the main disadvantage of a is that you must use plan dentists for all benefits.
Discount Dental Plans - The advantages are (1) low monthly cost, (2) no waits for services, (3) no annual limit on savings, (4) no claim paperwork to file, and (5) savings on most major dental procedures.
Given the facts, it's easy to see why the discount dental plan market is BOOMING, while traditional dental insurance is in decline. Unless you are able to obtain group dental insurance through your employer, then dental insurance makes little economic sense for individuals and families.
Discount Dental Shop for discount dental plans - cheap dental care - free dental care.