Real Dental Insurance - In Your Local Area

Selecting an Affordable Dental Plan for Your Family

What is the best and most affordable family dental insurance plan for me?

Finding a family dentist and an affordable dental plan can be a confusing experience. Although there is no one "best" affordable dental plan, there are some plans that will be better than others for you and your family dental insurance needs. We will try to guide you in simple terms. However, rather than just giving you answers, the best thing we can do is to make sure you are equipped with the right questions.

There are three major things to consider, each with their own unique set of questions. By considering the questions thoroughly, you will arrive at the right and affordable dental plan for you and your family.

• How affordable is the plan (cost of care)?
• How much will it cost me on a monthly basis?
• Should I try to insure just major dental expenses or most of my dental expenses?
• Can I afford a policy that at least covers my children?
• Are there deductibles I must pay before the family or individual dental insurance begins to help cover my costs?
• After I have met the deductible, what part of my costs are paid by the family dental insurance plan?
• If I use dentists outside a plan's network, how much more will I pay to get care?
• How often do I visit the dentist and how much do I have to pay at each visit?
• Does an affordable dental plan include services that match my needs (access of care)?
• What other dental providers are part of the individual or family dental insurance plan?
• Are there enough of the kinds of dentists I want to see?
• Where will I go for care? Are these places near where I work or live?
• Do I need to get permission before I see a dental specialist?
• Are there any limits to how much I must pay in case of a major illness?
• Is the prescription medication which I need covered by the dental insurance plan?
• Have people had good results when covered by a specific, affordable dental insurance plan (quality of care)?
• How do independent government organizations rate the different dental plans?
• What do my friends say about their experience with a specific plan?
• What does my dentist say about their experience with a specific dental plan?

If you consider these elements carefully when choosing a affordable dental insurance plan, you can be assured the best possible outcome.

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.

Dental Fees

Fortunately, in these times, a lot of patients have dental insurance. Insurance is, on the face of it, a good thing. It minimizes out-of-pocket expenses for treatment and encourages people to keep up with the dental care they need. But most dental insurance plans do not pay 100%. There simply is no perfect insurance plan.

Part of the problem is what's called "usual and customary fees." Insurers have come up with a fee structure intended to reflect the "average" cost of "average" dental care. Urban residents may be allowed different compensation than people who live in rural areas. Reimbursement for a crown may be a certain percentage of the actual cost (the dentist's charge to you), and another percentage for a cleaning. Patients are sometimes puzzled at the discrepancy between insurer reimbursement and actual dental fees.

Of course your dentist can't dictate the amount your dental insurance plan decides is "average." And they don't ask your dentist what cost he or she thinks is fair. The dilemma is this: your dentist can't, in good conscience, recommend less than quality dentistry, even though your insurer may impose an unreasonable ceiling on treatment. It's a rock and a hard place.

For this reason, you should take objections directly to the insurer or compare dental plans with your employer. If enough people make enough noise, the reimbursement picture might improve.

Ask your dentist to sit down with you and go over your dental plan and your dental financing options. He or she will try to make your dental insurance plan work to your advantage. Your dentist cares about your finances, and your health.

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.