Dental Insurance Articles

3 Ways To Find A Low Cost Dental Insurance Plan For Braces

2011-04-22

With insurance premiums forever on the rise, the cost for orthodontic procedures are becoming increasingly out of reach for many parents. Estimates now put the average cost of braces well above $4,500. There are, however, three good ways to find a low cost dental insurance plan for braces, which will render the expense for family's budget friendly and not budget busting.

There are several budget dental insurance products now on the market that allow parents to lower the total cost of braces after the cap on their traditional insurance has been reached. These supplemental insurance programs can be purchased in a family package and help to cover the cost of regular visits in addition to orthodontic work. One of the most popular is AmeriPlan USA; plans can purchased on a month-to-month basis and can be cancelled at anytime. Plans start at $25.00 per month and family plans begin at around $45.00. Co-pays are much higher than with traditional insurance and the doctor participation is much lower and families will find their options here extremely limited. Even with the setbacks this still can be a good option for families with multiple children or for those who have exceeded their annual insurance cap.

Two of the three good ways to find a low cost dental insurance plan for braces don't require the family to carry insurance at all. A good option is zero to low interest payment plans offered by many of the national dental chains. These chains offer all of the services of a traditional neighborhood practices along with large corporate incentives. Castle Dental has over 300 locations that combine family and cosmetic dentistry usually in a neighborhood strip mall location. Castle Dental offers in-house financing options at zero interest for most major procedures including braces. These are often in the form of monthly payments over a given period.

For customers who dislike the idea of a national dental chain and wish to stick with a smaller and more personal dental office, there are several companies that provide dental financing. Capital One Bank offers medical and dental procedure financing, however at interests rates that might give a consumer pause for thought. This is entirely a credit based loan and interests rates begin at around 7% and can go as high at 17%. CareOne Credit offers consumes a credit card that is used exclusively for medical and dental procedures. CareOne offers a no interest loan to customers who pay off the balance within given period of time depending on the original amount of the loan.

While none of these options help to lower the initial cost of braces they can help make the expense more manageable for families.