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Health Insurance: Avoid Painful Dental Bills With Insurance
Going to the dentist is bad enough without having to pay a huge bill.
Forty-six percent of Americans don’t have dental insurance reports the
National Association of Dental Plans. Many Americans have no idea that
dental insurance even exists.
Individual dental insurance coverage is available, but you might have
to do a little research to find the right policy for you. Dental work
can run thousands of dollars in just a few visits. You want to have the policy that will best fit you and your family.
Like other health insurance policies, dental insurance ranges widely
in the type of coverage you receive in relation to the benefits paid.
Some things are simply not covered. Monthly premiums average anywhere
from $12 to $50 per person.
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That doesn’t sound too bad, but be sure that you check to see if this
is simply an introductory rate. Many companies raise the rates
significantly after the first year.
Make sure that you are dealing with a reputable insurance company.
Dental insurance is an area that is highly reported to have fraudulent
companies taking advantage of consumers. If your work offers dental
insurance, it is probably your best option. If it isn’t available
through work, be prepared to shop around to find a good company that
offers a good deal. You can start by asking for recommendations at
your dentist’s office.
There are three types of dental insurance coverage: Dental HMOs,
Dental PPOs and Dental indemnity plans.
Dental HMOs are similar to a traditional HMO. You are given a limited
selection of dentists that you can see. This type of dental insurance
offers you the least amount of out-of-pocket costs. You premium costs
are likely to be very affordable, often around $13 each month.
With a Dental HMO, you are usually guaranteed one or two dentists
within 15 miles of your home or work. The focus tends to be on
preventative care, with many plans paying 100% of these visits. They
will usually pay for sealants or topical fluoride treatments that
other plans do not cover. As your treatments become more complicated
and expensive, your reimbursement rates could be at 50% or less.
Dental PPOs allow you to go to a network dentist and pay one set of
prices. You can chose to see a dentist outside of your network for
lessened benefits. The average monthly premium is usually around $30
per month.
Dental indemnity plans are considered traditional insurance plans and
are rare when it comes to individual coverage. If you can find this
type of coverage, expect to pay at least $40 per month.
There are credit unions, professional associations and affinity
groups, such as AARP, that offer members access to group dental plans.
You pay the entire premium, but get the benefits of being included in
a group plan.
For example, AARP offers a group PPO plan to its members through Delta
Dental. The monthly premiums range from $30 to $45 per person. Many
areas such as preventative care, diagnostic and restorative treatments
and oral surgery are covered by the plan. The premium is guaranteed
for two years.
You could also check into group plans offered through your employer.
You may have to pay 100 % of the premiums, but the terms are better
than with an individual plan. Though it will usually cost you a little
bit more, the benefits are well worth it. Many employers will let you
pay your premiums with pre-tax dollars, adding more benefits to you.
Discount dental plans are becoming popular these days. Basically the
plan negotiates your bill down, giving you a discount on certain
procedures. These plans can cost you around $15 a month. You are
responsible for paying the bill when services are given.
Some companies can negotiate you significant savings, especially in
the case of major restorative work. But the plans are largely
unlicensed by state authorities.
You should be careful when purchasing discount plans. Only buy through
major insurance carriers – they are always licensed. You could also
look to companies associated with national organizations, but don’t
take the company’s word, check with the organization itself.
Reputable plans will tell you that you are not purchasing insurance
and will tell you all the terms and conditions in advance. You will be
able to locate their web site, contact information and their corporation registrations for your home state. Ask which dentists are
included in the service and double check with each office. Never send
money without receiving the materials that spell out the terms first.
About
The Author
Martin
Lukac, represents http://www.RateEmpire.com
and
http://www.1AmericanFinancial.com, a finance web-company specializing
in real estate/mortgage market. We specialize in daily updates, rate
predictions, mortgage rates and more. Find low home loan mortgage interest rates from hundreds of mortgage companies!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Martin_Lukac
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