Learn 5 Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing a Dental Plan

  1. Do you know what is covered in your dental plan?

Do not go for a plan without checking what is covered in the plan. Coverage may vary depending upon the cost of the plan. Check out the following terminology to completely understand the coverage of different plans.

 

A deductible is a cost you have to pay before your insurance plan starts to pay. DHMO plans have no deductibles but dental PPO plans include deductibles.

Coinsurance is the cost percentage that is shared by you and your plan after meeting the cost of deductibles. You have to pay the full fee for dental treatments and services in those programs that do not include deductibles.

The annual maximum is the set amount paid by your plan in a plan year for the dental services you receive. If the cost for your dental services goes over the annual maximum, you will be responsible to pay for it.

Premium is the monthly cost you pay for your dental plan. A lot of choices are offered by DPPOs due to which they have higher premiums.

 

Different types of dental services are available in various types of dental plans. For example, periodic examination, dental cleaning, filling, X-rays are included in routine care. Routine preventive care may include dental services to prevent cavities and gum care etc. Broken or cracked teeth and teeth extraction due to accident include in emergency care. Complex care services of dental plans include dentures, bridges, braces, and orthodontia. Many plans provide a coverage structure of 100-80-50. This means that 100% of the cost is covered for the services of preventive care, 80%, and 50% coverage is provided to basic procedures and major procedures, respectively. The coverage of different plans may be different because some procedures are not covered in all plans.

  1. Do not choose without a background check

Teeth are a person’s important asset and they are limited. Only a single set of adult teeth grow throughout your lifetime. Make sure to select a good dental insurance plan and evaluate different specifications of the plan before finalizing it. Background checks help you to decide easily.

  • If you are considering a dental plan and you do not have any preferred dentist, you can select one from the provided network of the insurance company. Check the educational background and credentials of the orthodontist. The educational background of the dentist will provide you adequate information because some colleges offer valuable dentistry programs while others do not. Check the degrees, certificates, and diplomas of the dentist to evaluate if he can perform surgery or not.
  • Check the online reviews about the services of both dental insurance plans and the preferred dentist. Online reviews help you to determine the quality of the plan and the previous jobs of the dentist. If previous clients seem to be satisfied, you can also easily trust them.
  • Cheap plans look attractive but do not let the low price drive you to a bad decision. Some plans may overcharge but they do not compromise to provide you the best services. Cheap plans may provide you cheap services so, avoid these.
  • If you are buying a dental plan for your family, always consider the choices of your family. Make sure that your family should be comfortable with the dentist because they have to visit the dentist at least once every six months.
  • Always question the perks and benefits provided in the plan. This will save you money and keep you healthier. All the plans do not offer gum treatment for diabetics and pregnant women. If you belong to any of these groups, make sure to confirm coverage. 
  • Some dental plans have a waiting period. It is the period after the effectiveness of a dental plan and before your dental care procedures have started. If you want your filling done sooner, do not go for the plans with the long waiting period.