Tips for Saving Money on Dental Insurance
Dental insurance is becoming more popular as people realize that the costs involved in taking care of the teeth and gums continue to rise. And many doctors are now emphasizing the need to keep the mouth and teeth clean and healthy in order to prevent heart disease and other serious illnesses. Dental insurance normally covers basic dental procedures which are necessary to good oral health like examination of the teeth, cleaning procedures, teeth filling, fluoride treatment and teeth extraction.
Today there are 3 main types of dental insurance that clients can choose from. Dental PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) plans select dentists who participate in the network as "preferred providers". This means that the dentist accepts a discounted set fee as payment in full rather than billing at their usual rate for patients, which reduces costs for the insurance company.
When a patient visits a PPO dentist, they typically pay a certain percentage of the reduced rate (called coinsurance) and the plan pays the rest. PPOs usually require the patients to meet a deductible and have a limit on the annual maximum amount of coverage that the insurance will pay. Patients who participate in PPO plans can also visit dentists who are not part of the PPO network, but the insurance plan will only pay a small part of the fees in that case.
Dental Health Maintenance Organization (DHMO) plans, also referred to as pre-paid plans, require the patient to choose a specific dentist or dental facility to coordinate all oral health needs. If the patient should need to see a specialist, they will require a referral from their primary care dentist and may need to get pre-authorization as well.
Unlike a PPO, a typical DHMO-type plan doesn't have any deductibles or maximums. Instead the patient pays a fixed dollar amount ("copayment"). for the treatment that they receive. Often, diagnostic and preventive services have no copayment, which makes these plans very affordable. However, generally if a patient visits a dentist that is not part of the DHMO network, the patient may be responsible for the entire bill.
Indemnity or traditional plans, also known as fee-for-service - typically offer patients the greatest choice of dentists. Like PPO plans, if a patient visits a dentist in the network, the patient pays a certain percentage for each service (called coinsurance) and the plan pays the rest. And like PPO plans, indemnity plans usually require the patient to meet a deductible and have an annual maximum amount of coverage. The difference between a fee-for-service plan and a PPO is that a fee-for-service dentist usually does not offer the discounted rate that a PPO dentist does, which means that patients may pay more for their dental care.
In addition to dental insurance, another way to save money on dental costs is through dental discount plans, or reduced-fee-for-service plans. These plans charge a monthly or annual fee which allows participants to get dental services at a discounted rate from participating dentists. Unlike insurance plans, there is generally no paperwork, annual limits or deductibles with a dental discount plan, but patients must visit a participating dentist to receive the discount.
Today there are 3 main types of dental insurance that clients can choose from. Dental PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) plans select dentists who participate in the network as "preferred providers". This means that the dentist accepts a discounted set fee as payment in full rather than billing at their usual rate for patients, which reduces costs for the insurance company.
When a patient visits a PPO dentist, they typically pay a certain percentage of the reduced rate (called coinsurance) and the plan pays the rest. PPOs usually require the patients to meet a deductible and have a limit on the annual maximum amount of coverage that the insurance will pay. Patients who participate in PPO plans can also visit dentists who are not part of the PPO network, but the insurance plan will only pay a small part of the fees in that case.
Dental Health Maintenance Organization (DHMO) plans, also referred to as pre-paid plans, require the patient to choose a specific dentist or dental facility to coordinate all oral health needs. If the patient should need to see a specialist, they will require a referral from their primary care dentist and may need to get pre-authorization as well.
Unlike a PPO, a typical DHMO-type plan doesn't have any deductibles or maximums. Instead the patient pays a fixed dollar amount ("copayment"). for the treatment that they receive. Often, diagnostic and preventive services have no copayment, which makes these plans very affordable. However, generally if a patient visits a dentist that is not part of the DHMO network, the patient may be responsible for the entire bill.
Indemnity or traditional plans, also known as fee-for-service - typically offer patients the greatest choice of dentists. Like PPO plans, if a patient visits a dentist in the network, the patient pays a certain percentage for each service (called coinsurance) and the plan pays the rest. And like PPO plans, indemnity plans usually require the patient to meet a deductible and have an annual maximum amount of coverage. The difference between a fee-for-service plan and a PPO is that a fee-for-service dentist usually does not offer the discounted rate that a PPO dentist does, which means that patients may pay more for their dental care.
In addition to dental insurance, another way to save money on dental costs is through dental discount plans, or reduced-fee-for-service plans. These plans charge a monthly or annual fee which allows participants to get dental services at a discounted rate from participating dentists. Unlike insurance plans, there is generally no paperwork, annual limits or deductibles with a dental discount plan, but patients must visit a participating dentist to receive the discount.
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