Dental Insurance Advantages
It is important that you do seek dental coverage of some kind to ensure the health of your teeth and gums. Unfortunately, if you have to pay the full cost of dental care, you may find it difficult paying your dentist bills. Perhaps even more seriously, without dental insurance coverage, you may be tempted to skip regular cleanings and checkups, a decision that could lead to serious dental health problems.
How Dental Insurance Works
Dental insurance works similar to how health insurance works. For a specific monthly rate or "premium", you are entitled to certain dental benefits, usually including x-rays, cleanings, regular checkups, and certain services that promote general dental health. Some plans provide broader coverage than others and some require a greater financial contribution on your part at the time when services are rendered. There are some plans that may also provide coverage for dental implants, certain types of oral surgery, or orthodontia.
Dental Insurance Plan Types
Similar to medical insurance plans, dental insurance plans are often categorized as either Indemnity or managed-care plans. The major differences concern out-of-pocket costs, choice of dental care providers, and how bills are paid.
Typically, Indemnity plans offer a broader selection of dental care providers than managed-care plans. With an indemnity plan, the carrier pays for covered services only after it receives a bill, which means that you may have to pay up front and then obtain reimbursement from your insurance carrier later.
Managed-care plans typically maintain dental provider networks. Dentists participating in a network agree to perform services for patients at pre-negotiated rates and usually will submit the claim to the dental insurance company for you. In general, you'll have less paperwork and lower out-of-pocket costs with a managed-care dental plan and a broader choice of dentists with an Indemnity plan.
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