If you are looking for ways to save money on professional oral health care, you might be thinking about purchasing a dental insurance policy or a dental discount plan. These two arrangements are not the same, but they do both offer some distinct benefits. They also each come with some drawbacks. Which one is best for you? This blog post provides an overview of each option to help move you in the right direction.
Dental Insurance
Each dental insurance policy is unique, so you should be careful to scrutinize the details of any plans that are available to you. Here is an overview of some of the advantages you might enjoy with a typical PPO plan:
- Preventive care, including services like exams, cleanings, and X-rays, are usually 100% covered. Often, you do not even have to pay a deductible.
- Restorative care may be 50 – 80% covered, depending on whether a particular procedure is classified as minor or major. (Minor services tend to receive greater coverage.)
- You can use your benefits at virtually any dental practice, regardless of whether they are in your insurance plan’s network.
Admittedly, dental insurance does also come with a few drawbacks:
- There may be a waiting period of 6 – 12 months before you can use your benefits for certain restorative services.
- Your plan may have an annual maximum, which places a limit on how much your insurance company will pay out for approved services within a calendar year.
- Cosmetic services are almost never covered.
Dental Discount Plan
The details of dental discount plans can vary, so again, it is important that you take a close look at the details of any plans you are thinking about purchasing. Often, discount arrangements come with the following perks:
- Preventive care is available for no additional out-of-pocket cost.
- There are no annual maximums or waiting periods.
- You may be able to receive a discount on services that are not usually covered by insurance, such as cosmetic procedures.
- Often, a dental discount plan costs less than insurance.
Some common downsides of dental discount plans include:
- You are likely to pay more out of pocket for restorative procedures than you would if you used insurance.
- You can only use dental discount plans at specific practices (some are limited to a single practice).
Which Should You Choose?
There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to how you choose to save money on dental care. If your teeth are already healthy, a dental discount plan might be the more economical option. If you know you will need some restorative procedures soon or you travel frequently, traditional insurance might be better. Consider all the pros and cons of any discount plans and insurance policies that are available to you so you can settle on the one that best fits your needs.
Meet the Practice
Here at Family Dental Practice of Bloomfield, our compassionate and skilled team is always eager to help patients save money on their care. We welcome virtually all PPO insurance policies, and we offer the Essential Dental discount plan. If you are curious about how we can help you enjoy top-quality oral health services for a reasonable price, contact our office at 860-263-0441.