Dental insurance

Dental insurance works in a very similar way to that of health insurance. You pay a standard monthly insurance fee and in return you are entitled to certain dental benefits which generally include such things as dental checkups, cleaning, fillings, x-rays and emergency work (although not always in full).

Some dental insurance plans offer more than others which is then generally incorporated into the price you pay so if a dental insurance plan looks cheap compare the cover it offers to an insurance plan which carries a higher price tag.

Dental insurance plans usually have ‘deductibles’ in that the patient will have to pay the amount of the deductible before the dental insurance will shell out a penny. Dental insurance deductibles are usually set at around $50 - $100.

There is generally an annual limit to the amount that dental insurance will pay out in any given year. This limit is usually set at around $1,000 which is no greater than it was 25 years ago!

Very few dental insurance plans will cover any form of cosmetic dentistry such as tooth whitening, implants or veneers. Neither will dental insurance usually cover the cost of crowns if they are for the purpose of appearance.

Like all insurance, dental insurance companies are out to make money so if your teeth are in good health and the amount of dental care you normally require is minimal then you shouldn’t necessarily go for dental insurance with all the bells and whistles. Good cover for basic work and accidental damage should be of more interest. 

If you find that dental insurance premiums more than you want to or can afford to pay you can always look at low cost dental plans which, for a small monthly fee, provide you with access to low cost dental care. This is effectively just a service fee so make sure the benefits are worth paying for and check out the list of participating dentists before handing over your cash!

Author: Terry Ross

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