Are you looking for ways to save money on oral healthcare? You have a couple of options in front of you. For example, you could purchase a dental insurance policy or sign up for a dental discount plan. What is the difference between these two provisions? Which one might be best for you and your family? Continue reading to discover some useful information.
Traditional Dental Insurance
It is important to keep in mind that every dental insurance plan is different. There are even different types of dental plans, such as PPOs and HMOs. PPOs are popular because they offer some outstanding benefits:
- Preventive care is usually 100% covered.
- You may pay just 20% – 50% of the cost of restorative services, such as fillings and crowns.
- You can use your benefits at virtually any dental practice, regardless of whether they are in your plan’s network.
Of course, dental insurance does have a few potential downsides. For example, there might be a waiting period before you are eligible to receive coverage for certain services. You may also have an annual maximum, which places a limit on how much your insurer will pay for approved services within a calendar year.
Dental Discount Plans
Dental discount plans may be managed by a third-party company, or they may be exclusive to a specific dental practice. For a reasonable fee, you may get to enjoy the following benefits:
- Cleanings, exams, and other basic services are usually included at no extra cost.
- You may get a discount on a wide range of other services.
- There are no waiting periods or annual maximums.
- In some cases, a discount plan costs less than insurance.
The biggest downside to dental discount plans is that you will likely pay more out of pocket for restorative services than you would if you had regular insurance. You might also be quite limited in where you are able to use your benefits.
Which Is Right for You?
If your teeth are fairly healthy and you do not travel frequently, a dental discount plan may be the best option for you. On the other hand, if you are often away from home or know you need some restorative work for your teeth, insurance might be the better route.
Both insurance and dental discount plans can help you save! Carefully compare your options so you can make a well-informed decision.
Meet the Practice
Dr. Brett Noorda is a family dentist with decades of experience in his profession. He understands that patients are concerned about the cost of care, so our practice welcomes insurance. We also offer our in-house Smile Protection Savings Program. To learn more about how we may be able to help you save money on oral health services, contact our office at 702-456-7403.