- With Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) insurance, the dental plan features a network of dental practitioners who have agreed to be part of the dental group.
- If insured by a PPO dental plan, a patient must select an in-network doctor in order to have a visit or procedure covered by the insurance. Some PPO plans will pay for a fraction of the costs of an out-of-network provider, and some will not pay for any portion.
- For dentists, being an in-network provider allows for them to receive new patients. It also reduces the cost of billing those who do not have dental insurance and gives a guarantee that the physician will be paid for his services in a timely manner.
- The main drawback of providing care for a PPO plan is that dentists have to agree upon a set fee for each particular service when joining the network. If costs suddenly go up due to an unforeseen circumstance, the physician may not be able to raise fees accordingly.
- PPO dental insurance allows for affordable dental care and requires little, if any, wait times to have work completed. It also typically features a lower deductible than other types of dental insurances and requires less paperwork.
- PPO plan participants are given some freedom in choosing a doctor, but ultimately, are faced with a limit upon who can be selected. Those who already see a dentist may need to change if their doctor does not participate in the new plan. There also may be a dollar amount limit on how much dental work the plan will pay per year for an individual or family.
