Sadly, one hundred and eight million Americans have no dental insurance at all - no coverage for emergency services, no coverage for fillings, no coverage for braces, and no coverage for check-ups. Yet, shopping around for dental benefits proves they are affordable, even if they aren't provided through your job.
Sure, you might not need to buy a dental plan if you rarely have dental problems, but you might want to join a plan if you've had a rough dental history or if you anticipate needing a good deal of dental care in the future.
If you work for a company with more than 500 employees, chances are you are among the 175 million Americans who have a dental plan. However, when you take into account smaller companies (with less than 500 employees), the overall number of employers offering dental benefits drops to just 54 percent, leaving more than 40 percent of the workforce lacking dental benefits.
If you are among the latter group, you have affordable dental plan options available to you. These include dental insurance and discount plans.
With dental insurance, regular premiums are paid for coverage, and the plan has annual spending caps. Generally, the plan covers 100 percent of the cost of preventive services. Prior to receiving coverage for basic and major services, you may be required to meet a small deductible and/or satisfy a waiting period, typically six to eighteen months.
Dental discount plans differ from dental insurance. The discount plans are membership-based, and members get a discounts on a variety of dental services such as fillings, braces, exams, and routine cleanings, in exchange for a set fee. Typically, members receive about 30 percent off standard out-of-pocket expenses.
With discount dental plans, members are required to go to a dentist who participates in the plan and offers services at a discounted rate - perhaps $650 for a crown instead of the standard rate of $750 to $850. Typical features of these plans include an initial enrollment fee, a monthly fee to the participating company, and discounts on cosmetic procedures that are excluded from many dental insurance plans. Unfortunately, state insurance departments do not currently regulate dental discount plans.
According to the National Association of Dental Plans (NADP), you should ask the following questions when considering dental insurance or a dental discount plan:
· Are you licensed to offer this plan in this state? · Are you registered with the Better Business Bureau? · Can you mail me specifics on the plan before I sign up? · Do you have a website with more information? · Can I get a list of providers on the plan? · Is your plan endorsed by or affiliated with a legitimate organization?
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