Everyone deserves to have a healthy smile. However, it is not always easy to navigate the financial aspect of oral healthcare. The good news is that there are provisions that can reduce your out-of-pocket costs and take some of the stress out of paying for important services. Should you use traditional dental insurance or a dental discount plan? As this blog post explains, both options have their pros and cons.
Dental Insurance
Every dental insurance plan has its own nuances, so you should certainly do some in-depth research before you purchase any particular policy. In the meantime, you can review this generalized information about some of the advantages that commonly come with PPO dental insurance:
- Preventive care, including cleanings, exams, and regular X-rays, may be completely covered.
- Restorative care, such as fillings, root canal therapy, crowns, and more, could be anywhere from 50 – 80% covered, depending on whether a procedure is categorized as minor or major.
- You have the freedom to use your benefits at virtually any dental practice, regardless of whether or not they are in your plan’s network.
Dental insurance also has a few downsides. For example:
- You may not be eligible for coverage for certain services until after a waiting period has passed.
- You will likely have an annual maximum (a limit on how much your insurance company will pay out for approved services within a calendar year).
- Elective services, which typically include teeth whitening, veneers, and other cosmetic services, are almost never covered.
Dental Discount Plans
A dental discount plan may be managed by a specific practice, a corporate dental organization, or a third-party company. Regardless of who is running it, you can expect to enjoy some noteworthy advantages in exchange for a set fee:
- You may be able to undergo preventive services for no additional cost.
- Beyond preventive services, you can get a discount on virtually all other treatments, including elective procedures.
- Often, a dental discount plan costs less than traditional dental insurance.
- There are no waiting periods.
- There is no annual maximum.
A big downside of dental discount plans is that they are only usable at certain practices. Also, the discount they provide for restorative services is often smaller than what you would enjoy with traditional insurance.
Which Is Right for You?
Both dental insurance and dental discount plans can be highly valuable. The one that is better for you depends on the state of your oral health and your personal preferences. Thoroughly explore your options so you can choose the one that will work best for your family.
Meet the Practice
New Haven Dental Group in Branford is proud to feature a highly skilled team of oral health experts. We understand that patients are concerned about the cost of care, so we accept more than 200 dental insurance policies. We also offer the Essential Dental discount plan. To learn more about how we could help you save money on a healthy smile, contact our office at 203-439-6895.