More than 20 million children in the United States lack dental insurance that covers preventive oral health care and treatment. The most common chronic illness in children is tooth decay; left untreated, cavities cause problems with speech, nutrition and growth, according to the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Before selecting a dental insurance plan for your child, read the plan thoroughly, ask questions about coverage of routine and preventive services and determine how the plan provides for emergency treatment, the American Dental Association recommends.
Dental Indemnity Plans
If your employer allows you to select a dental indemnity plan, or fee-for-service plan, to cover your child's dental care, you may choose any dentist you want to provide care. These types of plans also allow parents to take children directly to a specialist, such as a pediatric dentist, without a referral, according to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. A third party, such as an insurance company, administers this plan and covers all or part of the cost of dental treatment.
Direct Reimbursement Plans
You can also obtain direct reimbursement plans to cover the costs of your child's dental care. With these types of plans, you don't pay monthly premiums, but your employer pays a percentage of the cost of your child's dental services. As with dental indemnity plans, you select any dentist you want to provide care to your child. Because employers reimburse employees for the actual amount of money spent on dental services and can't influence treatment decisions, this type of dental insurance is preferred, according to the American Dental Association.
Managed Care Plans
Your employer may also offer managed care dental plans for your family. In these plans, the cost of monthly premiums is low, but you may be required to take your child to a dentist within the insurance company's network, according to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Some types of managed care dental plans include dental preferred provider organization plans, or PPOs; dental health management organization plans, or HMOs; and dental point-of-service, or POS, plans.
Low-Income Plans
The Children's Health Insurance Plan, a nationwide program that provides low-cost insurance plans for those 18 and under, also covers dental services, including preventive cleanings, fluoride treatments, examinations, diagnostic services and treatment of dental diseases, according to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services. This dental insurance plan limits out-of-pocket expenses parents must pay if they meet certain income limitations; benefits and coverage vary from state to state.
References
- Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation: Dental Coverage and Care for Low-Income Children: The Role of Medicaid and SCHIP
- American Dental Association: Benefits/Insurance
- American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry: Buyer's Guide to Dental Benefits
- Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services: CHIP Dental Coverage
