I need to get a root canal soon, i need dental insurance..please help!?

Question

i just went to the dentist today, doctor says i need root canal, it is going to be $500 for that and $550 for the crown that i also have to have, plus some other expenses (i have some cavities) i don't have insurance, but i just found this website (also heard about it on TV) www.dentalplans.com

there are a bunch of different plans and it says that its a yearly fee of like $104, and there are different plans and different prices. I just want to know if it is legitimate. Has anyone done this before? The insurance that my husbands job offers is way too expensive, so we aren't going with them. Also this website says its effective immediately or in a day or 2. Please let me know. My dad is giving me $1500 for the dental work, and there is a lot of work to be done. i also have to get all 4 wisdom teeth removed and thats $200 each. From what i've seen this website looks like it saves you a lot of money. i don't want to make a mistake by signing up though, please help!

Answer 1

the plans that are listed on that site are not dental insurance; they are discount plans.  Aetena is a reputable company; and offers all forms of health and dental insurance.  I'm not certain about all of the others.  

The important thing with dentists is that a lot do not accept discount plans.  First check with your dentist to see if they accept any.  It's fairly uncommon that dentists do take the discount plans.

Answer 2

Those are "discount plans", not insurance.  Most dental insurances have waiting periods before they will cover major work like root canals and crowns.

Answer 3

Wow, that's a bargain.  I got THREE crowns last year (it was a bad dental year) and they cost me $900 each.  

The problem with that $104, is it's buying you  a LIST.  Your dentist may or may not be on that list - and even if he IS on the list, odds are, he won't take that plan.

Go talk to your dentist.  Ask him if he participates in any discount plans, and if so, which ones.  Otherwise, most dentists have access to an interest free financing plan, for big dental jobs like that.  

Don't go by a website.  Go by what your dentist says.

Answer 4

you need to keep in mind that the work you need done is not considered to be minor, therefore, many dental plans impose a 12 month waiting period for major restorative procedures such as a root canal or crown.

Answer 5

These are mostly Dental discount plans. Unlike insurance these plans usually don't have a waiting period to get all the discounts. The nice thing about this site is you can search for doctors that accept the plan before you make your purchase. I suggest you find a dentist call them and ask what those procedures would cost using the discount plan you are considering.

Dental insurance typically has a waiting period of 6 months for basic and 18 months for major work.

Ignore the people that tell you the doctors and dentist don't take discount plans. They don't know what they are talking about. Insurance is basically a discount plan. For being part of the insurance network the doctor or dentist agrees to a discounted price, just like a discount plan. Any reputable discount plan will let you search the doctor list before signing up.

Answer 6

As long as you realise it won't cover the pre-existing work that needs to be done right now, only anything in the future. There may also be a stand down period before you can claim.