It would be difficult to label any one type of dental insurance as the best dental insurance for everyone. This is because the needs of each individual patient is different from the needs of every other dental patient. The best solution for answering this question is to compare all of the dental insurance plan types available and see which plan bests meets your needs.
Best Dental Insurance ? Types:
There are three basic types of dental insurance available to the general public. They are all different in how they approach dental care and what they may provide for coverage. Those dental plans are a PPO, HMO and a Discount Dental Service.
PPO is usually the most expensive in terms of rates. It is also a popular plan because it allows dental patient to choose their own providers. This is important because not all dentists are the same. Many people have a fear of going to the dentist, and when that fear is real, finding a dentist that works for the patient is important. The PPO insurance plan usually has several options for orthodontic insurance coverage.
HMO: This is usually the least expensive of the two types of traditional insurance (HMO and PPO), but it is restrictive in how much it pays for services and dental patients must choose their dental providers based on a list of providers contracted with the plan. Not all dentist accept HMO dental insurance. The HMO dental plan usually have several options available for Orthodontic Insurance plans, though again patients may have to pay more for this service both in terms of premiums and in terms of how much the HMO plan actually covers.
The Discount Dental Service is a cooperative plan that has limited services and is usually paid as a one-time-fee. The balance of services are paid for by the patient. This can be a good plan for people if their teeth are in good health and they only require basic dental service throughout the year. These types of plans usually do not cover major dental work and are not usually considered a top pick for orthodontic insurance.
Of the three types of dental insurance listed above the best dental insurance is the one that fits your needs as a patient.
Best Dental Insurance ? Rates:
Like most insurance policies, certain factors affect the rate that a company may charge for dental and orthodontic insurance. PPO plans usually cost the most but they offset the cost of premium by offering more to the patient. Another consideration of cost are co-payments. It is important to compare the co-payment and other out of pocket expenses that the patient will be required to pay for receiving services. Free services are also an important consideration. Many plans offer free preventative maintenance such as cleanings or once a year X-rays.
Consideration should also be give for discounts that may be offered by the dental provider. Is there a discount of family plans verses individual plans? Is there a discount for people who do not use tobacco products? There are sometimes discounts available for other reasons, as well.
Is there a waiting period before care can begin? Sometimes dental insurance companies make new patients wait a certain amount of time before services will begin. This is to prevent people who have an emergency or pending dental work sign up for insurance, have the procedures and then cancel their plans. Orthodontic care may also be restricted to children under a certain age.
HMO plans can cost less than the PPO plans, but that cost savings comes with a price. The patient is not only limited by which provider they can see, they are also expected to pay more out-of-pocket expenses and potentially higher deductibles. The preventative services may also be reduced but these HMO plans may be the best dental insurance for your needs.
The cooperative plans are based on a flat fee but are also very limited in what they provide. Do not expect to receive orthodontic insurance though a cooperative plan. That is not to say that there are not cooperative plans that offer orthodontics, it is to say that they are rare.
Best Dental Insurance- Considerations:
As the work and job benefits continue to shrink, some companies are eliminating dental coverage or are expecting employees to pay a much larger share of the costs. For those people who are cost effective in their thinking, there comes a point when it is cheaper to buy your own dental insurance. Things to consider when making that decision are cost and service. Though another consideration should be looked at, and that is discounts on taxation. Can the premium of dental insurance be written off of yearly tax as a medical expense, etc?
Determining the best dental insurance is a matter of cost and services. Services can be thought about in two ways. The first is how many services are you paying for or how many services are provided for the cost. The second is how many services will you anticipate that you may need in a calendar year. If you know you may need a $1700 bridge, then maybe it is more cost effective to pay a higher premium and a smaller deductible. Think about the types of services that will be needed before they are needed. This thought along, will help to analyze cost and cost effectiveness of dental plans available to the patient. Sometimes the most expensive plan is the best options. Fortunately, there are many plans available for patients to consider. Make a habit of shopping around for quality insurance plans that fit your needs as a dental patient.
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