by Guest » Tue May 16, 2006 07:57 am
Seldom can we distract ourselves when we see a sumptuous piece of chocolate cake lying in front of us. A lot of us may be very careful with our hygiene but only a handful of us are conscious of the way we take care of our teeth and mouth. We only become cautious when there is a problem with our teeth and we need to go to the doctor. It is usually not until we face a problem that we think about dental insurance.
Dental insurance has been a much neglected form of insurance but dental care has by far been really expensive. Most of us are aware that dental insurance is important. The cost of dental care can have a heavy impact on your pocket. Having dental insurance coverage helps you cover the cost of dental care when you need it.
Dental insurance has been a much neglected form of insurance but dental care has by far been really expensive. Most of us are aware that dental insurance is important. The cost of dental care can have a heavy impact on your pocket. Having dental insurance coverage helps you cover the cost of dental care when you need it.
What does a basic dental care plan include?
When going for a dental insurance plan, you must be aware of the coverage that dental insurance provides. The kind of coverage that you may receive will differ from one policy to another. However, a general dental insurance policy includes 3 basic categories:
- Basic dental care and procedure: This may include tooth extractions, fillings and other such procedures. Some providers may also include root canal in their basic dental care plan and some may not. What one provider covers will differ from what another provider covers.
- Major dental care: Includes services like orthodontics, denture work, dental surgery and other such dental procedures. Not all dental insurance plans may cover the major dental care. However, some insurance companies may cover at least a portion of these costs.
- Preventive and diagnostic care: Basic preventive dental care is covered by almost all dental insurance policies. This means that most of the dental plans cover a large part or may be all of the dental care costs for basic services. Such services include cleanings, check-ups and other such dental procedures. This coverage encourages patients or all those who are insured to seek regular dental check ups. Regular check ups in time can help prevent problems in the future.
How can you get individual dental insurance?
Private insurance companies sell individual dental insurance to its clients. If you have not been covered by your employer for dental care, you may purchase and individual dental health insurance. Paying the full cost of dental care may be too taxing. So getting dental insurance would be a good idea without which you may be tempted to skip regular dental check ups.
Is Individual dental insurance easily available?
Insurance companies usually do not offer individual dental insurance. Risks related to your teeth are much likely to occur than compared to the other risks involved with the other insurance policies. While it is true that anyone may have an accident any time, it is also true that not all those who are insured will have an accident at the same time and file a claim for the same. Hence, even if one policy holder does file a claim, there will be many who will not need to file any claim and the company will automatically make profits. But every individual will need to visit a dentist at least every six months.
Insurance companies may be at a loss if they provide individual dental insurance. But if you are employed you may seek such an insurance from your employer. Employers often get a lot of tax benefits and if employees get more benefits from purchasing an insurance policy from the employer, more and more employees will be attracted. If you get employer provided insurance, you may find quite a few affordable dental insurance options.
Insurance companies may be at a loss if they provide individual dental insurance. But if you are employed you may seek such an insurance from your employer. Employers often get a lot of tax benefits and if employees get more benefits from purchasing an insurance policy from the employer, more and more employees will be attracted. If you get employer provided insurance, you may find quite a few affordable dental insurance options.
How does employer provided dental insurance help?
Not all employers provide insurance. But if your employer provides dental insurance you should take it. Employers are said to get the best dental plans since they can offer greater premiums to the insurance companies. The greater premiums come partly from the employees and part of it is paid by the employers. Big companies will have several thousands of employees who opt for such a plan. Hence, the insurance companies receive high premiums each month.
How can you effectively choose a dental insurance plan?
Make your dental research options effective. When you are sure about what you want from your dental insurance you may want to find out which company or policy would offer you maximum benefits for the price you pay. Here is how you may determine:
You can choose from the various dental insurance plans available. Check with your insurance provider and choose the best plan suitable for you.
- You may decide ahead of time which policy feature will be best for you. This will help you find the right dental policy.
- Insurance companies mostly ask for a yearly dollar premium and if the services you require go beyond their usual amount, you will have to bear it out-of-your-pocket. However, if you can settle for a plan with high dollar premiums, your out-of-pocket costs may become lower.
- Certain insurance providers may exclude few services like root canal, surgery and similar treatment. This is why you may need an insurance provider who will cover for as many dental treatments as possible. Getting a low cost dental insurance would not suffice. You may only end-up paying more out-of-pocket expenses.
- Insurance companies may have their own network of dentists. If so, then choose a provider who offers dental care professionals in the area you stay in. However, if needed you may go for a plan that allows you to choose your own dental care professional out of the network of the insurance company.
- If your dentist charges more than your coverage, you may have to pay the difference out-of-your-pocket.
- Compare the dental insurance plans Make sure to compare insurance plans from quite a few insurance companies. The policies of one company may certainly differ from the policies of another. Hence, unless you compare you will never know which company is giving you a better offer for the same price.
You can choose from the various dental insurance plans available. Check with your insurance provider and choose the best plan suitable for you.
What is supplementary dental insurance and where can you get one?
Supplementary dental insurance helps you get the coverage that you need and without spending too much money too. This way you may have more control over your dental care and also at an affordable price. With a supplementary dental plan you can get insurance directly from an insurance provider rather than being a part of a group plan run by your employer or state.
How can you benefit from supplemental dental insurance?
- If you are self-employed, you may be benefited because such a policy helps pay for the basic dental care that you would otherwise have to pay out of your own pocket.
- If you are a business man, you may offer affordable dental insurance to your employees. Even with less number of employees you may opt for such a plan.
- If you have great dental needs, you may find such a plan helpful in getting you flexible and full dental care that you need to meet your problems.
- If you are under an employer paid dental plan, you will get an affordable dental insurance.
Dental care is of great importance but more often than not we tend to neglect it. It is only till we get a bad toothache that we realize the importance of taking care of our teeth. But by then the damage has already started and thinking of dental insurance then may not be a fruitful idea. Dental care costs are really hitting us hard under the current economic situation. Hence, it is advisable that you should get dental insurance when your insurance company cannot reject your request for any pre-existing conditions.
Hi, I'm facing a weird problem with the dentist I had been to a few days back. He is quite apprehensive to accept my dental insurance claim form as payment . He is asking me to pay him upfront and then collect it from my insurance company. Is there anything I can do at this juncture ?
crestfallen Gabby.
crestfallen Gabby.
Posted: Tue May 16, 2006 08:45 am Post Subject: you only have only two options..
My friend ...this is quite a common problem now a days..!
Its not always that the insurance companies would accept your dental insurance claim form as a mode of payment even though you may have a very good insurance to back it up. Most likely they would force you to pay them instantly and then yourself settle the payment with your insurer. But in some other cases the insurers would pay you a fixed amount for certain dental procedures. If you've gone for a simple dental bonding then the maximum amount you get as reimbursement may often be too less compared to the amount charged by the dentist.
Under those circumstances you only have only two options to follow, either you may pay it out of your own or you might choose to go for a less expensive treatment. So, its high time that you understand that the dentists are now trying hard to get out of any insurance program.
thanks..
Posted: Tue May 16, 2006 09:03 am Post Subject: a discount dental plan
Obviously ! You have the choice of opting for another plan which might be of some good use to you. This plan is called a Discount Dental plan and is quite different from the
traditional dental insurance. This plan is ideal for individuals whose employers do not offer any dental insurance coverage for them and their families.
regards,
Courtney
Posted: Tue May 16, 2006 09:37 am Post Subject: differences...
Hi ..could anyone tell me the difference between a general Dental Insurance plan and a Discount Plan ? What are the things that are genuinely covered by the Discount Plans ?
Posted: Tue May 16, 2006 10:05 am Post Subject: an individual plan as well as a group insurance plan !
A Dental Insurance plan could be an individual plan as well as a group insurance plan that would reimburse the insured for normal dental care or for any tooth decay caused as a result of an accident. But a group insurance plan would be defined as a contract between the insured and the insurer where in the insured would certainly get reimbursement for the dental services that are pre-listed.
Posted: Thu May 18, 2006 04:35 am Post Subject: Pre-decided discount Rate !
Hi!
Outside-network dentists are less likely to accept your dental insurance claim form as a mode of payment.
Let me clarify, that for a general dental insurance program you'd be paying a yearly premium and get access to the provider dentists. But the discount plan would certainly negotiate s lower rate for some services like hygiene visits, exams, fillings, cleanings, root canals, orthodontics, crowns etc with the provider dentists.
Most of these services are provided by the dentists at a pre-decided discounted rate that gets calculated even before the insured has purchased the discount plan.
regards.
Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2008 04:54 am Post Subject:
My insurance through my husbands job covers a different % on each proceedure done and only up to 1000 a year. A root canal can take all of that. However I have found that with a lot of dental work a Dental Discount Plan called Ameriplan is even cheaper than insurance. You can get more info at http://mybenefitsplus.com/rrolson. Hope this helps.
Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 11:08 am Post Subject:
There could be other reasons for the dentist's rejection of the dental insurance claim form. You'd need to be absolutely sure that you've filed the claim within the needed time frame. Also make sure that you've attached the right documents e.g. itemized receipts or bills in its support - the identification number of the member, tooth surface(s), the DOB,SSN,Proof of address etc.
Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 12:17 pm Post Subject:
Hi,
I don't think there could be more reasons. Had the dentist been enlisted with your carrier it would be an easier task for him to mail the dental insurance claim form along with the attachments to the insurance company. That would have saved a lot of time and ensured security for both the parties.
Plasticmind
Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 03:14 pm Post Subject: teeth
how much is total cost of basic ins?
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