Compare dental plans? To me, that conundrum seems an awful lot like deciding whether to punch yourself with your left or right hand; either way, pain is involved. But, comparing dental plans, in actuality, comes down to not paying an arm and a leg for a new set of teeth. Here’s some advice for finding an affordable and comprehensive dental plan:
Much like HMO coverage, dental plans require patients to pay monthly premiums, dependent on variables such as dental history and the number of people included in the plan. Aside from monthly charges, dental plans include other consumer expenses. Deductibles, co-payments, and co-insurance routinely make an appearance on one’s dental coverage bill.
A deductible simply means that patients must pay a specified initial amount before the dental insurance provider begins supplying coverage. A higher deductible usually means a lower monthly premium. Dental plan providers ordinarily pay a percentage of the bill after the deductible is met; for example, if your dental bill is $2,500 dollars, your deductible $500, and the insurance carrier pays an 80 percent portion, you pay $900 ($500 deductible plus 20 percent of remaining costs). The co-payment or co-insurance portion is, in this instance, 20 percent of the bill minus the deductible. Pretty straightforward.
What if the dentist you frequent is not a registered member of your dental plan provider? This situation is much less straightforward. But, if you scrutinize and compare dental plans, you’ll discover two main types of coverage: Indemnity and Managed Care
Indemnity
Indemnity dental insurance gives patients a wider range of options with regards to selecting a dentist. Costs will routinely be higher (dental plan providers will often only pay the reduced rate charged by dentists in their network, forcing patients to pay the remaining difference). Additionally, patients are reimbursed under most indemnity plans — in other words, patients must personally front the dental fees and later file for insurance funds. People are naturally skeptical of reimbursements, since dental insurance companies could decide that the work completed was not covered by one’s plan. Despite this risk, indemnity dental plans offer patients more options and ultimately better care. They are, however, a bit pricey.
Managed Care
Managed care dental plans thoroughly resemble HMOs. In a network format, pre-approved dentists are recommended by one’s dental health maintenance organization and subsequently provide discounted services to plan members, of which the insurance supplier immediately pays their share. When you compare dental plans, you discover that managed care, while having the convenience of immediate reimbursement, represents a larger degree of bureaucratic control over patients’ dental care, not to mention the hassle and risk of using and trusting a DHMO’s recommended dentists.
To compare dental plans, while tedious, gives patients the ability to select affordable coverage that meets their demands. Trips to the dentist’s office will always be painful, but there is absolutely no reason why patients should be overcharged by their insurance carriers for the pleasure. Online resources readily explain dental plan specifics and offer confidential price quotes quickly and conveniently. Remember: Choosing the best dental plan, in the end, means avoiding pain outside the dentist’s chair.
By Jean-Pierre Lacrampe