Why Dental Insurance?

The cost of Dental care in America is one of the fastest rising medical costs concerning our healthcare. Dental Insurance is like any other insurance. You pay a premium each month and the insurance company helps to keep the cost of services low and minimize your out of pocket costs. Most dental plans will cover routine care such as cleanings, extractions, exams and fillings with no waiting periods, the waiting periods associated with different policies can vary on things such as root canals, crowns, bridges and dentures from 6 months to 1 year. As you can see by the waiting periods, it is really important to put a plan in place before you actually need it.

The cost of routine care is not that expensive with a dental policy, usually the dental plans will cover anywhere from 50% to 80% of the cost depending on the plan you have chosen. So for example you schedule a routine cleaning and exam, the average cost is around $100 for the exam and cleaning, if your policy covered 60% your part would be about $40.00 for the exam and cleaning. For an exam and cleaning that is really a reasonable price to obtain a healthy smile, gums and teeth. Some plans have a deductible, understanding your policy is a must discuss this with your broker or agent.

Routine care is essential to having healthy teeth and gums while keeping our dental expenses at a reasonable cost. By receiving regular cleanings we can prevent the more expensive procedures such as root canals and crowns. As for many, we don't realize we need a dentist until we have debilitating or excruciating pain, and then we usually have a more expensive treatment awaiting us as we try to set an appointment to see the dentist and possibly have to wait for an opening.

First rule of thumb: Always be prepared for the unexpected. Consider a dental insurance policy and make routine dental care part of your healthcare.

When shopping for dental insurance these are the things you will want to consider:

How much will my premiums cost? What is my deductible? What percentage of coverage do I have? What are my waiting periods? Does my policy just cover routine care or major dental procedures (you will want both) Do I have an HMO, PPO or indemnity policy? (Which means network doctors or not)

After carefully shopping around, if you can answer all the questions above you should have a good idea of understanding your dental policy and being able to make an educated decision.

Dental Plans - Coverage Options Available for Individuals

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?

Finding the Best Dental Insurance Coverage

The market for dental insurance continues to blossom by the day as the competition grows to give you the best deals. That same competition has encouraged providers to offer different rates which will suit almost all kinds of people.

Dental insurance companies are innovative and always thinking up something that will make a mark in their field for potential buyers. That is how they survive and make a living for themselves. They churn out promotional covers and many families have continued to benefit from them since they fill their needs.

To find out more in detail about the stuff they have to offer, you can do quick searches in the internet. The dental insurance firms are putting their quotes online so that families can access the information. The benefit of applying online is that you do not incur any fees for ordering quotes.

The gist of all that is that a family may choose to apply for however many quotes they like as they begin their search. They can get enough information they need from the insurance providers so that they make informed choices on which one will work the best for them. The rates are done only after careful research and a medical background check is done on pre-existing conditions.

The breadwinner in the family is the one who does the application details and forwards them to the companies they are considering. Generally the information is just to do with dental history of the family members the program will be covering. Some details are personal but there is no worry as it is confidential. They just need to know what they are working with.

A good firm is that which will offer competitive rates for a wide variety of dental services. That means that the member should best choose the reputable ones.

Families can also get quotes by means of directly getting into contact with the insurance company. These companies also have brokers and a number of insurance agencies locally. Just note that some of these brokers will charge you some fee every time they quote some rates. There is no bias involved so you can expect accurate info.

These dental insurance quotes are easily accessible as long as you have an internet connection, a phone, or both. However, the final call is all up to you and what you wish to do. You are responsible for which one you choose in the end, which allows you to spend wisely.

Dental Discount Plans: Is AmeriPlan A Legit Alternative to Dental and Health Care Coverage?

Before my career shift to online marketing, I was laid off from my job with an Internet start-up company and found myself with no health insurance and no dental coverage. The irony to this is I had neglected a tooth that had been bothering me for quite awhile when I actually did have dental coverage. So while I had insurance, I simply didn't use it because... well, I absolutely hate going to the dentist! I also wasn't going in for my regular cleanings and checkups.

As (un)luck may have it, once I was without dental insurance for the first time in years, the intensity and frequency of the toothaches picked up. I would often find myself awake at night sometimes to the point of tears. I was even fighting with my wife since planned date nights and socializing typically turned into me being agitated and crabby because of the pain. Not to mention the frustration that I felt over having no health care and no dental coverage to do anything to help my situation.

Unable to take it anymore, I made an appointment with my dentist and made arrangements to use a high interest credit card to pay for whatever necessary dental examination, treatment and care was needed to stop the pain. A routine examination confirmed that I needed about $3000 worth of dental work.

As I was walking out of the dentist office, I noticed a bundle of AmeriPlan pamphlets that were placed in the office's magazine rack. The receptionist didn't know very much about AmeriPlan when I inquired about the brochures. She knew that it was a healthcare, prescription, and dental discount plan that was accepted at the office. She advised me to research the web for program specifics since she wasn't permitted to really advocate or promote the discount program.

Some Say AmeriPlan's Dental Savings Are a Scam - Are They?

A Google search showed me various online forums where those posting made statements that AmeriPlan is a scam. This alarmed me initially but I had read the brochure thoroughly and understood that the company wasn't promoting themselves as a healthcare provider or substitute to health insurance. I fully understood that I wasn't just paying a small co-pay amount with each visit to the dentist, as I did with health coverage; however, I'd still benefit from savings at the dentist for each individual procedure and treatment.

It seemed as if those applying the scam tag to AmeriPlan failed to accept that the program is a supplement or alternative to dental and health care coverage in the form of a discount program. Others posting about the AmeriPlan scam seemed to take offense to the fact that there are brokers selling the program online and in their neighborhood. I on the other hand became intrigued by the business model and wondered if I should ask my broker about joining the business since I was out of work and we were struggling. Obviously that eventually happened as I am here today marketing AmeriPlan.

There were also some comments suggesting that the dentists accepting AmeriPlan were the bottom feeders in the dentistry world and weren't very good. Pay no attention to this nonsense since my dentist accepts AmeriPlan's dental savings card and he's been voted Best Dentist in Pittsburgh, PA countless times in various polls by local newspapers and magazines. My advice is to just scan the list of dentists in your area who accept the program before signing in. That way you know for sure that there are participating providers within a reasonable distance to your home and you can research their reputations online before seeing someone you're unfamiliar with.

AmeriPlan Dental Plus isn't full health care coverage but it's a beneficial alternative to dental and health care coverage that may be your best chance for savings at the dentist, eye doctor and chiropractor, in addition to the pharmacy savings. I ended up saving very close to $1000 from the original price quote for nothing more than a $20 a month AmeriPlan package covering not just me but my wife as well.

I was able to distribute that $1000 savings elsewhere on things undoubtedly better than a root canal and I didn't have to acquire more debt and max out my credit card. I was comfortable signing up because there were no hidden fees and I could cancel at anytime. I wasn't signing into any kind of contract term. The pharmacy savings I obtained with my AmeriPlan pharmacy discount card for my antibiotics and pain meds and my wife's acid reflux medication further impressed me. We later expanded our plan to the AmeriPlan Healthcare package - offering medical discounts in addition to the savings at the dentist and pharmacy savings of Dental Plus.

Visit http://www.altcareonline.com and click LOCATE PROVIDERS in the left navigation bar under My Benefits Plus to locate doctors, dentists and pharmacies in your area currently accepting Ameriplan.

Are You Ready For A Dental Emergency?

Most people will have a dental emergency at some point in their lives, but effective preparation can help. Here's a handy guide for what to do when the worst happens -- are you ready?

1. RECOGNISE AN EMERGENCY.

You can recognise a dental emergency with a simple test: if you're in pain, it's probably an emergency. Causes of pain may include an obvious injury, such as a blow to the face causing a tooth to become dislodged; or an infection, such as an abscess in the tooth. More complex conditions may include issues with wisdom teeth, gum disease and mouth cancers. But don't lie in bed worrying about it. Dentists anticipate the need for emergency procedures so if you are already registered with a dentist, you should be able to arrange an emergency appointment at extremely short-notice, especially if you have a dental insurance plan. Some dentists will have out-of-hours numbers as well.

2. USE YOUR FIRST AID KIT.

You will need the numbers for your local dentist -- especially any number for out-of-hours treatment; as well as your dental insurance and NHS direct. Mouthwash may be useful, and sometimes dentists will recommend using chewing gum to fill the cavities left by lost fillings. Broken teeth can sometimes be kept in milk to keep them safe and, of course, you will need painkillers.

3. GET AN EMERGENCY DENTAL APPOINTMENT.

To do this, you need to be registered at a dentist. Sadly, one of the major issues in British dentistry today is the provision of emergency dental care. In 2000/2001, 17,400 people sought emergency treatment for their teeth in casualty because they could not find a dentist. In 2009/2010, this number had soared to 24,292, including a number of patients who had tried to pull out their own teeth. DIY dentistry can often be disastrous and should definitely be avoided! Make sure you know your dentist's regular and out-of-hours number and what the procedure is for a dental emergency.

4. CONTACT YOUR DENTAL INSURANCE COMPANY.

Dental insurance quotescan start at quite low prices and most will include benefit towards emergency treatment, sometimes including emergency treatment abroad. You will usually need to notify your insurer as soon as possible and seek their advice, which will also give you peace of mind concerning costs as a lot of dental insurance plans anticipate that a portion of the costs will still be shared by the patient. While most emergencies can be dealt with relatively quickly, some injuries or oral conditions can become extremely complex and expensive: if your emergency developed into an oral cancer, would it be covered? A good dental insurance policy is a great preparation for a dental emergency.

5. MAINTAIN GOOD ORAL HEALTH.

Prevention is always better than cure and routine oral health will be the best defence against dental emergencies. Brush, floss and maintain regular dental check-ups to identify cavities. If you have trouble finding an NHS dentist, it may be worth investigating private dental insurance. Schemes may also include hygienist appointments, check-ups and benefit towards routine work which means you can budget for your teeth. Note, however, that some conditions, such as wisdom teeth and orthodontic work, are generally not eligible for benefit, unless the treatment is sufficiently routine that it can be conducted in the dentist's chair.

It takes only a small amount of time to prepare for a dental emergency but a little effort is your best chance to walk away smiling!

What To Know About Dental Insurance For Self Employed People

Dental insurance for self-employed entrepreneurs is particularly important if you have a family. Being your own boss means carefully evaluating your financial situation and finding a policy that suits your budget and your needs. If you can afford it, an oral health comprehensive plan is obviously the best. However, if this is out of reach, you will have to choose a cheaper option.

Since most oral procedures are expensive, look at a policy that covers expenses only. If the premium for this is still too high, then apply for a dental discount card. In the US, these are designed to help individuals and families to save money on oral health. Participating dentists will offer a reduced fee to members. However, note that this is not an insurance plan, it is a discount program.

A discount card offers between 10 and 60 percent savings on oral procedures. You can choose from over 30 regional and national plans with more than 100,000 participating dentists. Joining is easy and, for quick activation, apply for the card online.

Getting back to insurance plans, there are ways to qualify for a low-cost policy. First, you must establish how much you can afford to invest in a plan. Then you need to estimate the level of oral care that you and your family will need annually. If you all have healthy teeth and intend visiting the dentist for regular check-ups, cleaning, whitening, or polishing, a basic plan should be fine.

There are many different policies on the market. Therefore, to choose the right one, you must compare the various options. The internet is a good place to start because the competition among online insurers is strong. This gives the consumer an opportunity of taking advantage of cheap rates for good policies. Individual operators are often the best because they have less monthly expenses than large firms. This enables them to give substantial discounts.

If considering a policy that includes participating dentists, check their location. Several of them should be close to where you live. If they are a long distance away, this could be very inconvenient, especially in the case of an emergency.

Many self-employed people sign up for a dental indemnity plan which is also called a fee-for-service plan. If you select this, you can choose any dentist. You do not have to obtain referrals but you may have to get prior authorization for some oral procedures. A deductible is involved in an indemnity plan. The policy will pay a percentage of the UCR (usual, customary, and reasonable) cost. Typically, the ratio is 80:20 which means the insurer pays 80 percent and you pay 20 percent.

Here's how UCR fees relating to dental insurance for self-employed people are calculated. Usual refers to the fee that individual dentists charge most frequently for specific procedures. Customary is the fee determined by administrators of indemnity plans from the actual fees for specific procedures. This establishes the maximum payout for a procedure. Reasonable refers to dentists' fees for complicated or unusual procedures which may differ from their standard fees.