How You Can Save With a Dental Plan vs. Dental Insurance

I’m compelled by my good nature to share an incredible discovery. In doing some comparisons of a dental plan to a dental insurance, I discovered some very important distinctions. With the recent need to cut back on many of our expenses, a vast majority of us are facing the struggle to keep our health insurance cost at a minimum. And for many of us, the added expense of dental insurance is something that is put on the back burner until it’s too late.  Even if you have dental coveragewith your current insurance policy, when it’s time to visit the dentist we find that the insurance policy does not cover everything we think it should. Have you ever tried to use your dental insurance when you have had your teeth whitened? Good luck. With a dental plan, cosmetic dentistry is covered.

I think it is important to learn the facts before you can best decide on the purchase of insurance coverage for something so important.

Almost all dental insurance companies use what is called a Usual, Customary and Reasonable (UCR) fee guide. This means that the insurance company sets their own price that they will allow for every dental procedure that they cover. This is not based on what a dentist actually charges, but what the dental insurance company wishes to cover. For example, your dentist may charge $95 for a dental cleaning, but your insurance company will only allow $64 because that is the UCR fee that they have set. With a dental plan, the company sets the price you will pay the dentist even if he charges more.

At least 90 percent of dental insurance policies carry a “missing tooth clause” or a “replacement clause.” Many dental insurance policies include at least one of these clauses, but most have both. A missing tooth clause protects the insurance company from paying for the replacement of a tooth that was missing before the policy was in effect. For example, if you lost a tooth before your coverage started and later decided that you would like to have a partial, bridge or implant, the insurance company would not have to pay for that service if they have a missing tooth clause in the plan. A replacement clause is similar except that the insurance company won’t pay to replace procedures such as dentures, partials or bridges until the specified time limit has passed. In my research I found dental plans will cover you within 24 to 48 hours including preexisting conditions and one company even covers dental implants.

Well, now you have an alternative to that expensive necessity and it’s called a Discount Dental Plan. For a small annual membership fee you can visit your dentist for anything including preexisting conditions and cosmetic dentistry. A good dental plan even covers things like dental implants which most dental insurance policies do not cover. You’ll be amazed by the savings you can experience as a member of an inexpensive discount dental plan.