How to Decide if You Need Dental Insurance

Insurance...how can one word conjure up so many good and bad thoughts?! Insurance can be a lifesaver when it comes to medical bills, house fires, and deaths. Insurance can be awful when it comes to premium costs, non-covered services, and unused benefits.

So how do you decide if you should pay for dental insurance? Sometimes, it is included with your insurance plan (for example, through your employer) at no cost to you. Other times, it is available, but at a price. Here's how to weigh the pros and cons to decide if you should buy dental insurance.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Review your past dental history. Have you had a lot of dental work done in the past, other than orthodontia? Tally up your dental costs over the past few years (the cost that you paid, as well as what previous insurance paid, if you had any), and this should give you a pretty good idea of what you would spend in a year without insurance.

2. Think toward the future. Do you plan on having orthodontic work done, such as braces? Have you had your wisdom teeth out yet? And what about regular cleanings - are those important to you, or can you live without them.

3. Next, add up the premium costs of the proposed dental insurance, and see where you stand. If you have had a good dental record and can continue to keep it that way with home care, most likely you would save money by not subscribing to dental insurance. If you often have cavities, have had crowns, root canals, or other major dental work, insurance is probably your best bet.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are in a situation where you have had dental insurance, and are moving to a situation where you don't have dental insurance (such as switching employers), it is in your best interest to get one final cleaning/exam before you quit your dental insurance.

[cb4me]

on 2/2/2010 Good tips!

[jenecequa]

on 1/20/2010 Just starting working that out after retiring. I think as we age, we might need it, but still not so sure about the coverage and costs. Your article was insightful. Thank you. 5*

[jenecequa]

on 1/20/2010 Just starting working that out after retiring. I think as we age, we might need it, but still not so sure about the coverage and costs. Your article was insightful. Thank you. 5*

[bethany1202]

on 1/20/2010 Great advice. I opted not to get my dental insurance at work since the premium cost more than medical + vision combined, and I have a Health Savings Account I can use for dental work or visits. 5*

[tammyfrost]

on 1/17/2010 Insurance can be so expensive. Thanks for this article. I recommended you.