How to Get Individual Dental Insurance

Dental insurance helps cover the cost of caring for your teeth.

Many people do not go to the dentist because they do not have money to pay for the visit. Dental insurance helps relieve the cost of dental work by paying for dental cleanings, checkups and dental repairs, but may differ from most health insurance in certain ways. Many dentists will not file your dental insurance for you, meaning that you will need to pay up front for dental costs and then be reimbursed by your insurance.

Instructions

1. Check first to see whether you qualify for a dental insurance program through your employer. Group dental plans generally offer better rates with more coverage than individual plans. If you qualify, look at the monthly premium for your plan, the amount you will pay for procedures and the coverage limit for the dental insurance.

2. Look online for a dental insurance plan. When looking online, do a Better Business Bureau check before signing up for a plan. Additionally, look for insurance company names you know and trust.

3. Contact a local health insurance agent to see what dental insurance plans he offers.

4. Compare plans by looking at the monthly premium, the amount of coverage you will receive including your coverage limits and your out-of-pocket costs. Most plans cover 100 percent of the cost of cleaning and checkups, but will cover only a percentage of dental repairs.

5. Find a dentist who accepts the insurance plan you choose. If you already have a dentist, ask which plans he accepts and choose from the list you are given.

6. Apply for the dental insurance you choose and pay your first monthly premium.

Tips & Warnings

• Since maximum coverage limits can be quite low, it is important to determine whether the monthly premiums are the same as the maximum coverage limit. If this is the case, you are better off saving up for dental care yourself.

• A dental discount card is another option for saving money on dental work. Dentists who accept the card agree to offer a discounted price to the cardholder for services. The discount company works out the set price of specific procedures. Generally the cost for a card is much less than monthly insurance premiums.

References

• CNN Money: Take the Bite Out of Dental Costs
• MSN Money: Finding a Dental Plan Doesn't Have to Hurt