One of the most common reasons that people give for not seeing their dentist is money. Paying out of your pocket for regular oral health maintenance is daunting enough; if you need more complex dental work, it can be positively impossible. Fortunately, you have several dental insurance options.
TYPES OF DENTAL INSURANCE NETWORKS
Regardless of where you obtain your coverage, your dental plan will probably use a network of preferred dentists and specialists. Types of networks include the following:
• HMO that will not help to cover costs unless you use a network provider. Typically, you will contribute a small deductible and a copay at every visit.
• pPO that charges an annual deductible that you must pay before any costs are covered. It saves you money if you use a network provider but will also give you smaller discounts on out-of-network professionals. A typical PPO covers 100 percent of preventive care and cleanings, 90 percent of common procedures such as fillings and 80 percent of more complex work such as bridges or extractions.
• Indemnity plan that allows you to go to any lower valley el paso dentist. However, you must pay up front and submit a claim in order to be eventually reimbursed.
GROUP INSURANCE
If your employer provides dental coverage, this is probably your most affordable option. That’s because the group rates that your company negotiates are much cheaper than anything you could buy as an individual. If you are a member of AARP, you can sign up for dental benefits through that organization.
INDIVIDUAL PLANS
If you are unable to get coverage through a group, you can pay for your own insurance via an individual plan. The coverage you will receive is similar to that for a group plan, but keep in mind that most individual plans make you sign a 12-month contract. Some also make you wait anywhere from six to 18 months for major dental work.
DENTAL DISCOUNT PLANS
Although these are not insurance coverage in the technical sense, they can definitely help to make dental costs more affordable. You pay an annual fee and often an enrollment fee to join. although it costs more than you would pay if you had group dental insurance, it is much more affordable than paying the full cost. Oral health services are less expensive because discount plan dentists band together to negotiate affordable rates. To get the savings, you will need to obtain all forms of treatment within the plan’s network. Therefore, be sure that the discount option you choose has doctors and specialists who are conveniently located near you.
CASH
Of course, you can always pay for dental services with cash. If you have no chronic or major dental issues and just need a cleaning twice a year, this might be your most affordable option. However, you could be slammed with a sudden and very high cost if you experience an emergency and need to have major work done by an oral surgeon or endodontist.
Maintaining good oral health is vital to your overall physical well-being. Don’t let financial worries keep you from getting the preventative and targeted care you need. Find the type of plan that is right for you, and call a lower valley el paso dentist today.