How to Get Good Dental Insurance

Good insurance coverage can save you a bundle on dental work.

Dental insurance helps assuage the expense of dental work. Without coverage, cleanings, restorative work, x-rays and dental surgeries can cost a pretty penny. If you're eligible and your employer offers it, you can find good dental insurance at a competitive rate for yourself and your family. If you don't have the luxury of an employer-sponsored insurance plan, however, you can review the inclusions and prices of multiple insurance companies to find a policy that meets your needs.

Instructions

1. Choose an indemnity plan if your budget allows it. This type of dental insurance is ideal since it allows you to choose any dentist without penalization by the carrier. Indemnity plans typically pay 50 to 80 percent of the fees charged by a dentist, according to Quality Dentistry. Indemnity plans also usually pay the dentist directly instead of sending payment to the subscriber.

2. Collect dental insurance plan quotes for the best price, premiums and coverage inclusions. Choose between individual plans that only cover the subscriber and family plans that cover your spouse and children. For instance, according to eHealthInsurance, an individual indemnity plan for New Jersey with a $50 deductible, 50 percent coverage and $1,000 maximum benefits costs approximately $30 per month. Family plans with the same coverage start as low as $55 per month.

3. Check out coverage inclusions. According to the California Dental Association, your plan should cover a yearly oral exam, recall exams twice a year, x-rays every three years, twice a year cleanings and fluoride treatments twice annually.

4. Review the deductible required by the dental insurance plan. The lower the deductible, the better the plan will be. Ideally, you want coverage with a zero deductible. This means coverage starts immediately without you needing to pay out-of-pocket costs. Note, however, that this type of plan usually has a higher premium than those with a deductible. Plans with lower cost insurance premiums may have a higher deductible, but should not exceed $50. Deductibles are not usually charged against preventative dentistry work.

5. Find out the Usual, Customary and Resonable, or UCR, benefit levels used by the dental insurance company. The benefits paid by the company depend on the average fees charged for each particular dental service in your region. Find out the company's current UCR rates that they use and compare them to the fees charged by area dentists. If the UCR rates are out of date, you may be paying more money out of pocket.

6. Read the fine print. Dental insurance companies may impose rules like the right to require you to receive a cheaper alternate treatment if the insurer decides the outcome is the same. This could possibly impact the quality of care you receive when undergoing dental treatments. Also, check for any procedures denied reimbursement under the plan. For instance, providers usually don't cover cosmetic dental procedures like teeth bleaching. The carrier may also deny coverage for pre-existing dental conditions.

7. Look at the annual benefits limitations. This is the maximum number of services or money you can use in any given year. If you know you need a lot of dental work, consider a plan with a higher maximum benefit level.

Tips & Warnings

• Discount plans are an option to consumers considering dental insurance. For a low monthly or annual rate, you pay a discounted rate to dentists who participate with the program. Payments go directly from the customer to the dentist.

References

• Quality Dentistry: Dental Insurance and Dental Assistance Plans
• California Dental Association: Just the Facts, Please ???
• California Dental Association: What Everyone Should Know About Selecting And Using Dental Benefits -- A Consumer's Guide To Dental Insurance

Resources

• eHealthInsurance