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Five Things To Know When Choosing a Dental Insurance Plan

You've heard time and again that dental insurance can protect you and your family from dental and financial catastrophe. Even cheap insurance with minimal coverage will most likely save you big bucks over the course of your lifetime. A quick Web search will show that insurance is big business, and your options are becoming more expansive - and complicated - by the day. Not sure where to begin? Here are five things to consider when selecting family dental plans or an individual dental insurance plan that works for you!

1. Shop around! Finding a plan that works can be quite a feat. Even when employers offer dental insurance benefits to their employees and their families, it often isn't enough. This means you'll need to shop high and low until you find the best plan for your budget and lifestyle. The Internet has made all of this much easier - you have access to informational materials on a multitude of companies right at your finger tips. Be sure to read all the fine print; when it comes to your health, surprises are rarely a good thing.
2. Know your limits. All insurance plans have maximums - some good, others bad. A low maximum on your total benefits is never a good thing. That means if something major (and expensive) comes up, you may have to delve into your own pockets. A second maximum applies to your yearly deductible, which is the most amount of money you'd be expected to pay for your own care. A low maximum on your deductible is a great thing, so be sure to do the math when comparing policies.
3. Maintain control over your health. A dental insurance company may or may not have your best interests at heart, but, either way, they're somewhat removed from the situation. It's important that you have a say in your dental health. For starters, shouldn't you be able to choose your dentist, or at least have a plethora of options should one provider not work out? It's also important that you and your dentist have a lot of pull when it comes to making important decisions - an insurance company should never put unreasonable restrictions on the type of care you can receive.
4. Look for the 3 R's (sort of): PRevention, Restoration and EmeRgency Care. Having access to these three types of dental care is critical for lifelong oral health. Preventive care reduces the likelihood that you'll develop a dental condition that could have been avoided. Restorative care ensures that things that do go wrong, such as damaged or decayed teeth, will be fixed. Finally, emergency care you'll receive the proper care when you need it immediately, such as if your tooth is knocked out. Some family dental plans cover other specialty care, like orthodontics, so consider your needs and go from there.
5. The waiting game. Some insurance companies make you wait a certain period of time before they will cover certain procedures. If you need immediate attention, find a policy that supports it. If everything's in order, however, a minor wait may not be a major issue for you.

A carefully selected family or individual dental insurance plan could not only save you in a pinch, but ensure good oral health for life. It's critical, however, to do your research and read the fine print. Don't let your dental insurance company take you for a ride!

+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.