October 15th, 2007
Tooth Be Told
I work for an insurance company on the medical side. My company does offer dental insurance, but the most basic plan really only covers preventative services. If I would need anything done, it could become quite costly to me and my pocketbook. I can not even begin to imagine what it would cost without having insurance and needing to go to the dentist. I have yet to use it because I am afraid of much it will cost me.
That is why there are discount dental plans. These plans are designed to help the engaged consumer and may be more cost effective than a traditional dental insurance plan. Part of the problem with going through an insurance company is it is sometimes really hard to find a dentist in your network that you like. If you choose a dentist out of network, that usually means a higher out of pocket amount for the you. This site offers providers in over 30 states with a list of about 100,000 dentists. It seems like it should be easy enough to find a dentist that suits your needs for the price you can afford.
The other problem with dental plans is that not all companies offer them. If the companies do offer dental plans, they are not at a very affordable price. The premiums are more than some of the simple procedures the dentists do everyday. So not only would you be paying the premium, you would also be paying the deductibles and copays. Plus the plans may have limitations such as pre-existing clauses or waiting periods. Discount dental plans seem to be the easy way to cut the middleman out.
Really in the end, its how much are you willing to spend on your teeth? Its how much research are you willing to do and save on your pearly whites.
