We need affordable, comprehensive, dental insurance for our family?!
Question:
We need affordable, comprehensive, dental insurance for our family?
can't afford too much, but we need a policy that covers most of the cost for dental procedures - not talking about one of those discount plans that offer "20% - 80% discounts" because what they usually offer is closer to the 20% end.
Answers:
The plan that you are looking for doesn't exist for individuals, at least not in my area. As an example, lets say one of your family members needs a root canal. First you'll have to wait until the 19 month to get the procedure done because the insurance has a 18 month waiting period for major treatments. Also for this example you want to get everyone's teeth cleaned and one of your kids needs a filling. Here is a breakdown between a popular comprehensive insurance plan and a discount fee for service plan:
Waiting period for Root Canal - Insurance 18 months, Discount none.
Calendar year maximum - Insurance $1500, Discount none.
19 months premium - Insurance $2029.96,
Yearly premium - Discount $149.95
Annual Deductible - Insurance $50 per person and $150 per family, Discount $0
Exam - Insurance $0, Discount $16.75
Full mouth X-Ray - Insurance $10.80, Discount $26
Root Canal - $414.50, Discount $404
Cleaning for 2 adults/2kids - Insurance $0, Discount $126
Filling - Insurance $19.20, Discount $47
If you add up the cost of the premium, deductible and everything else the insurance will cost you a total of $2624.46 and the discount plan will cost you $643.70.
I'm an independent health insurance agent and I do not have dental insurance because of the above comparison. You can find a plan for around $150 per year here: http://www.dpbrokers.com/default.aspx?lo...
One word of advice before signing up with any dental discount plan or dental insurance. Make sure to check the dentist provider list and pick a dentist (if you can't find your dentist on the lists). Call the dentist to make sure they're still taking the plan and they're accepting new patients.
Do not confuse dental discount plans with medical discount plans. The medical discount plans are mostly scams.