A sparkling smile with a mouth full of healthy teeth is something we would all like, for ourselves and our families. Dentist visits can be expensive, and if you don’t have medical coverage for these procedures, you might find yourself out of pocket for a considerable amount.
Fortunately, there are insurance packages that cover some of the costs. We give you five tips for choosing the best dental health plan.
1. Establish Your Needs
The type of coverage you’ll need differs from one person to another. Families might want to explore comprehensive dental plans from HealthMarkets. If you have children, consider that they might need to get braces in some cases and extras such as fluoride treatments or sealants. Coverage varies by plan.
If you or anyone in your family is involved in sports, accessories such as mouth guards might be required. To cover adults and seniors, you must think about conditions such as tooth sensitivity, gum disease, and even replacing missing teeth.
The older you get, the more crucial preventative care becomes.
2. Find Out What Plans Are Available
As a starting point, find out if you qualify for group coverage through your employer. If you can’t get a plan through work, you’ll need to look at individual policies.
Consult an independent broker; it will save you a lot of time when trying to find a health insurance provider. Not all companies offer cover in all the areas. Start by narrowing down your search to plans available in your county, state, or by zip code.
Make a note of which dentists are in your network, and if there’s one you particularly like, ask them which insurance plans they accept. Many online tools will help you narrow your search for the best dental policy.
It’s also best to ask for written quotes from various companies before deciding on one. Usually, along with an offer, the insurers will send details of the coverage options so you can compare plans.
3. Know What The Policy Covers
Once you’ve chosen a provider and a policy, go through the agreement thoroughly. You need to understand what your insurance covers. Establish what the plan will pay for regarding both expected and emergency costs.
Take note of any waiting periods or exclusions that could affect you and your family. Some health insurers will cover general procedures such as tooth removal, filling, root canals, and examinations from the policy’s start.
For more intensive treatments such as dental implants and dentures, you would have to wait till year two. Before you choose a plan, consider the out of pocket costs. Most of them have a certain amount payable, and you’ll need to plan accordingly if someone in your family needs major dental work.
4. Open Enrollment
Each year there’s an enrollment period when you can enroll in a health plan. Work-based plans might have various dates for joining. Some typical deadlines are 1-31 December for employee plans, and for individual packages from 1 November-15 December.
For medicare enrolments, the dates are typically 15 October-7 December. The dates aren’t fixed and could shift, so it’s best to check with your employer or a broker for the correct information.
5. Group Dental Savings Plans
Certain dentists support group dental plans, which can help families with additional savings. You’re required to pay a joining fee, and this will give you access to specific discounted rates for some dental services.
These plans don’t cover all types of treatments but are worth looking into for people that need to save extra money on dental care. It could be a boost when out of pocket costs become too much, or you’ve reached your plan’s limits.
6. Assess The Price of the Policy
One of the main things most people want to know about a dental insurance policy is the price. However, trying to choose a dental insurance policy based solely on the price is a huge mistake. Rather than making this mistake, you need to figure out what you are getting for the cost when looking at a new insurance policy. If you are going to get more coverage and benefits, then paying more may be a good idea.
Some people make the mistake of getting the dental insurance policy with the lowest monthly premium. This generally results in their deductible being through the roof. When the time comes for a serious dental procedure, a high deductible can cause a lot of out of pocket expenses. This is why finding the right mix of both value and coverage is imperative.
7. What is the Policy’s Waiting Period?
Most people fail to realize that many dental insurance policies will have waiting periods. These periods can be as long as a year in some cases. A waiting period is the amount of time you have to go without full dental coverage. Before you select a dental insurance policy, you need to figure out how long you will have to wait. If the waiting period is too long, you may need to keep looking. Setting for a longer wait period means that you will be unable to receive the care you need to keep your teeth looking their best.
Final Thoughts
A healthy set of teeth is essential for a person’s overall well being. Health insurance can help by providing cover for primary and emergency treatment. To find the best plan for you, start by analyzing your family’s needs to establish how much cover you require.
Find out what insurance packages are available in your area by researching them yourself or speaking to a local broker. Once you’ve picked the right policy, study it closely, so you know what it covers.
Take note of the enrollment dates, which fall mostly towards the end of the year to enroll in a health plan. To boost your savings, consider joining a dental savings plan group to help get access to essential dental services when needed.
It takes time and a bit of effort to find the ideal dental health insurance, but by following these tips, you’ll find the perfect solution in no time.
