Im looking for low cost dental insurance and cant seem to find one. HELP!!!?

Question

Im looking for low cost dental insurance and cant seem to find one. HELP!!!?

Answer 1

Unless you work for a big company, most dental insurance is not worth it.

Between the premium you pay, the copays, the exclusions and the limitations, at the worst you would break even.  In addtion most insurances pay out a yearly maximum of $1000-$1500 a year per person.  Any cost above and beyond that amount comes out of YOUR pocket.

The HMO's (dhmo) are horrible on top of that as they make it incredibly hard to see a specialist should you need one.  They way HMO's are set up is really ridiculous:

-they pay a general dentist a set amount per patient that signs up with said dentist.

-that is why they make is so hard to get a referral- they are alreayd paying the general dentist for the work(even if he refers you out, the general dentist still continues to get a monthly payment for said patient)

-HMO's fee schedule to the participating dentists/specialists is usually less than 50% of their regular fee that a tradtional insurance would allow, which is why there are so little participating.

You are better off saving your own money.  And if offered, take advantage of the flex spending at many employers.  This is money you have set aside just for medical/dental expenses-(sort of like a christmas club at the bank), but you have to use up all of it by the end of the year, so be sure to estimate as best as possible.

Answer 2

Ditto what Yarmiah said, but also remember the $1000 isn't paid out simply by paying the total cost of treatment up to the maximum amount. Treatment is paid on  a percentage basis. Your cleanings/exams/xrays are generally paid at 80%-100%. then your simple fillings, root canals, are paid at 60%-80%, and crowns, bridges, and other"major" work is paid at 30%-60%. So along the way you are paying % of those fees also then after you've used up the $1000 you pay the 100% of the fees. These days $1500 isn't a lot because of the cost of dental care. If you are paying the premium, you most likely would end up paying a lot.

One solution is that you could save like she said, and/or sign up with a discount plan that could save you a good deal of $ in the long run. It depends on what you need done.

Besides being in the field for over 12 years, and 8 of those dealing with dental insurance, i am also a rep for a very good well known discount plan company, (dental,health, vision, prescriptions). I have some of my own patients that use teh plan.  I can't give too much  information out here in this post due to rules, but if you would like more information you can email me. If you send me your city/zip, I could tell you if and how far away are participating providers. Also if you know the type of treatment you need, as well as prescriptions you are taking i could let you know how much you could save before you sign up. The plans run from $15 per month to $60 for savings on the above 4 plus auto club, legal, diabetic supplies and physician.

Answer 3

There is no such thing as dental insurance worth the money. Look into alternatives. E.g. LocalDentist4Less membership.