Dental Insurance Articles
Discount Dental Plans And How They Differ From True Insurance
2010-09-27
Many people feel confused when it comes to buying dental insurance. There are two options for those who are interested in dental care: discount dental plans and traditional dental insurance. It is important to understand the difference between these two options in order to determine which best suits your particular needs.
A discount dental plan is designed for groups, families and individuals who are looking to save money on their dental care services. Those who purchase this type of insurance have to go the dental care providers participating in these plans, so the options are quite limited. With dental insurance, you pay regular rates for your coverage.
Traditional dental insurance plans are quite similar to health insurance. The customer pays a fixed rate every month, while the insurance provider pays the dentist directly for their share of your dental expenses. Discount dental plans are completely different from traditional dental insurance, because they enroll you in a network that provides you with discounted prices from the dentists that have signed a contract with the company from which you are buying insurance. Each of these options has its own particularities, so it is essential to do some research in order to find out exactly what you need.
Although traditional dental insurance plans allow you to see any dentist, not all dental care providers are willing to accept the insurance claim forms as payment. Once you exceed the amount of money for which you are insured, you will pay for additional services. If you opt for a discount dental plan, you will pay a fee every year in order to have access to the dentists who have agreed to provide dental care services for a lower price. Discount dental plans usually cover typical services like routine checkups, cleanings, fillings, crowns, root canals and more. As soon as you purchase this type of plan, you will pay a discount price when going to the dentist. Because there are no deductibles to worry about, you will not be limited by the number of services you receive during the year.
Both dental insurance and dental plans reduce the cost of preventive dental care, promoting good oral health. The only significant difference is how the dentist gets paid. Each type of dental insurance has pros and cons. For instance, individual dental insurance allows you to pay monthly premiums, but there are waiting periods and annual limits. On the other hand, a discount dental plan is quite inexpensive and involves no deductibles. However, most discount dental plans don't cover preventive services completely. The best is to compare these two options and decide which of them works for you.