|
Dental Insurance Plans or Dental Plans - Will You Be Ripped-Off? In 2004 the average American family paid $907 a month or $10,884 a year in healthcare fees! These statistics are forcing employers, as well as, consumers to review their options. Employer's, whos shared premiums are rising, are dropping some insurance or some benefits to control costs. A dentist friend of mine makes $365,000 a year, without working weekends. The dental hygienist makes $150,000 a year. absolutely no wonder we cringe at the time we or our children obtain a bad toothache. We can not afford not to have dental coverage... but let us not be ripped-off. Let's explore dental insurance plans first. Dental insurance plans has been around for 120 years. it is evolved into a particular alphabet soup of providers. HMO's, DHMO's, PPO's, including Indemnity plans to name a few. Without a particular employer co pay, these plans should be very expensive. at the time you are looking for dental insurance, or reviewing your policy, look for the limitations. These include; yearly deductibles, yearly spending limits, waiting periods, including exclusions. Some have limits on pre existing conditions. Your review pertaining to the policy could tell you if you are being ripped-off. Premiums should range between $40 to $100 a month for a particular individual or a family plan. Let's now look at dental plans. Dental plans are consumer driven alternatives to dental insurance including its higher costs. the industry is still in its infancy, having been around only 15 years. The last 5 years there has been a particular explosion of providers. Dental plans are much easier to explain. The dentist gives you a discount on dental services between 25% to 80%. Most discounts are in the 50% to 80% range. Why you ask? They don't have to hire a fulltime user to fill out all the paperwork or wait 3 months for their money. Plus its good business, people could come for routine care because they should afford it. Fees range between $9 to $20 a month, for individual or family plans. The Benefits Include: 1. absolutely no waiting period 2. absolutely no yearly limits on visits or services 3. Instant savings 4. absolutely no age limits 5. absolutely no paperwork 6. All specialists included 7. All ongoing dental problems accepted (except braces in progress) 8. Cosmetic dentistry is included 9. Orthodontics(braces) included for both children including adults 10. You should change dentists without notifying anyone The better dental plans include added benefits, such as, prescription including vision discounts at absolutely no extra cost. You are the best judge of whether you are being ripped-off. at the time reviewing companies plans, look for these extra benefits including their providers in your area. You know sooner or later you or your child could be forced to visit a dentist. Take the fear including stress out of the decision. There is absolutely no reason that 70% of us don't have dental coverage. You now know you should afford it!
|