A trip to the dentist makes many people cringe, but going without dental insurance adds financial stress to the visit. Understanding how dental insurance works enables you to better compare individual dental insurance policies to make the best selection. Before you begin your search, think about the people covered by the policy and their dental needs so you can find a plan that best matches.
Significance
Dental insurance covers part or all various charges associated with visits to the dentist. Many individual plans offer coverage for regular, preventative cleanings and checkups to avoid future problems down the road. Securing an individual dental insurance plan makes your visits to the dentist more affordable, which may increase your chances of accessing regular dental care.
Types
An indemnity plan offers you more freedom to select the dentist you want. You pay copayments for dental coverages and may have limits on benefits. A preferred provider organization, or PPO, limits the dentists you can select for care. Dental discount plans aren't actual insurance policies, but they do offer individuals discounts on services if dental insurance isn't an option.
Coverages
The dental insurance premium pays for the coverages afforded under the policy. According to the California Dental Association, dental insurance focuses on preventative care, so most policies will afford more coverage for routine checkups. The plan will also cover restorative services such as fillings, root canals, tooth extractions and other necessary procedures. Some policies do not cover braces and other orthodontist services, and most do not pay anything on cosmetic dental procedures such as veneers or whitening.
The deductible is the amount you pay before the dental insurance kicks in. Some policies waive the deductible for preventative care, such as cleanings. You might also find policies with copayments or coinsurance, which represents your portion of the bill each time you see the dentist. The deductibles, copayments and coinsurance might be higher if you visit a dentist that is out-of-network.
Shopping
As you shop around for dental insurance, you'll notice that the deductibles selected affect the rates. In general, the higher the deductible, the lower the premiums. The maximum yearly benefit you will receive under the plan also affects price. You will likely pay more premium for a higher benefit.
Most insurance agents will offer you an overview sheet that breaks down the specific coverages under the dental plan, any restrictions, copayments, coinsurance and the maximum benefit under the plan. Use these overview sheets to identify the differences and similarities between each policy, as well as the difference in premium.
Considerations
Individual dental insurance plans often have designated in-network providers, meaning you only receive benefits if you go to selected dentists. If you already have a dentist that you want to continue seeing, check on the list of providers associated with each plan before selecting one.
