The Difference Between Dental Insurance and a Dental Savings Plan
Dispelling Some of the Common Misconceptions
We all know that dental insurance can be costly, especially if you need a lot of work done. And, many of us often wait until we have a huge crisis or dental emergency to act. By that point, we already know we are going to incur a huge bill.
But we don’t have to.
It’s time to act now. And, it is important to know your options – you have options.
With the cost of health insurance premiums and deductibles/out of pocket expenses on the rise and as I shop for a plan of my own for my family and I – I can’t think of a better time to provide you with a comparison – dental insurance vs. a dental savings plan.
Dental Insurance:
- Includes basic preventive care such as checkups, cleanings and x-rays. The typical cost of an individual policy is around $350 and for a family $550 a year.
- Although dental insurance reduces the cost of care as well, many policies, even some of the most expensive ones, limit coverage to $1,000-$1,500 annually.
- Dental insurance companies typically enforce a 6-to-18 month waiting period before paying for major dental treatment such as crowns or root canals. And often times, such dental insurance policies will not pay to restore teeth that were missing before the policy was purchased or for work that was underway prior to the policy going into effect.
- With the current cost of a dental crown ranging from $1,400 – $1,800 and a root canal at $1,200 – $1,800 – it’s easy to exhaust one’s savings. Before you know it, that trip to the dentist is replacing that family beach vacation you have been dreaming about.
Dental Savings Plans:
- This cost-effective alternative usually activates within three business days and provides a 10%-60% savings on costly procedures such as root canals, crowns, fillings, etc. at dentists nationwide.
- It is roughly half the cost of dental insurance with no annual caps or deductibles.
- Plan members can use their plans as often as they choose.
- Many plans include bonus benefits with savings on vision care, prescription medications, etc.
- There are no pre-existing condition exclusions or waiting periods to get care.
Please note – this is not insurance. One increasingly popular option is substituting or even supplementing dental insurance with a dental savings plan.
I like using the “Search by Procedure” tool on the :DentalPlans website to compare plans and select a plan that works for me and my family. It includes plans from 30+ providers, like Aetna, and Cigna, depending on the area in which you live.
:DentalPlans is offering a special discount for friends of The Stuff of Success. Become a new :DentalPlans member by calling 1-844-551-0039 or visiting www.dentalplans.com and using promo code SAVENOW15 by December 31, 2016 to take 15% off any of their dental plans.