| What is dental insurance? | | | | Close Panel, you are given a list of dentist to |
| | | | select, they in turn signed an agreement |
| Dental insurance covers the patient against dental | | | | controlling their charges with the dental insurance |
| costs. It is not uncommon to have a dental | | | | company. |
| insurance or dental plan together with your health | | | | Preferred Provider Organization (PPO), Group of |
| insurance. Some employer will offer some form | | | | dentist that offer to charge less, if you want |
| of dental insurance over and above the company | | | | someone else, you might need to pay the |
| medical insurance. | | | | difference. |
| | | | Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO), Group of |
| Unlike health insurance that covers diagnosing, | | | | dentist that offer to charge a lot less, but then |
| treating and curing serious illnesses, dental | | | | the client cannot go anywhere else, (unless they |
| insurance mostly covers preventive treatment. | | | | pay the full price). |
| Dental treatment is highly predictable and very | | | | |
| often non-catastrophic. Most dentists will advise | | | | As you can see the more you go down the list |
| patients to have at least one check-up every six | | | | the more restrictive the options are, typically an |
| months, that kind of preventive treatment is | | | | Self-Funded Insurers will offer an open panel |
| covered by most good dental insurances. | | | | whereas Dental Service Corporations and |
| | | | Insurance Carriers will offer EPO's. |
| Dental plans very often encourage patients to | | | | |
| have regular dental check and promote good | | | | How is the dentist compensated? |
| dental hygiene, it is in there best interest to offer | | | | |
| such plans with the dental insurance. | | | | Payment plan, the patient pays a monthly fee to |
| Do i need dental insurance? | | | | the insurer and in turn the insurer pays the |
| | | | dentists/specialist. |
| As mentioned, unlike health insurance, dental | | | | Capitation Plans, the dentists charges the |
| insurance is very predictable and as such is not | | | | insurance company a certain amount per-capita, |
| always a good candidate for insurance. | | | | (per patient), and in turn offer to treat the |
| For example, most dental insurance will offer | | | | patient. |
| $1000.00 cover per year, but the fact is that | | | | Direct Reimbursement Plans, the patient pays the |
| most patients never require more than $100.00 | | | | full price and the dental insurance plan will |
| per year. Self funding might be a better option as | | | | reimburse all or some of the money. |
| it removes the dental insurance overheads. | | | | |
| | | | The second option is very limiting as some rogue |
| The employer option | | | | dentists are inclined to offer substandard |
| But if something goes wrong then you might | | | | treatment to maximise their profit. The last option |
| need a comprehensive dental insurance cover or | | | | allows you to choose the best treatment plan. |
| access to funds that you might not have. | | | | All above can limit the percent value that is |
| This is why some employers offer Direct | | | | actually been repayed and/or cap the yearly value |
| Reimbursement (D.R.), the employer takes a | | | | that can be (re-)claimed.How are the benefits and |
| percentage of salary into a dental insurance fund | | | | payments calculated? |
| and this covers the employees. | | | | |
| The insurance companies response | | | | A list is given of what is covered and for how |
| To offer cheaper dental insurances than the one | | | | much, any amounts over are not reimbursed by |
| offered by employers, insurance companies | | | | the dental insurance. |
| responded with HMO's and Preferred Provider | | | | The dental insurance offers a maximum amount |
| Plans (PPO's). Under those plans the insurance can | | | | that can be reimbursed per year, as long as the |
| offer cheaper premiums, but the treatments | | | | patient is within that figure the insurance will cover |
| offered are often very limited. Another problem is | | | | them. This is great for long term treatments, |
| that the dentists often increase the waiting lists | | | | allowing the patient to choose the best value for |
| and limit specialist treatments. | | | | money and overall treatment for their need. |
| The common options | | | | |
| | | | What ever cover is offered by the dental |
| Although the employer dental insurance is often | | | | insurance you must make sure that it has a |
| the better option you need to look at that they | | | | regular review to ensure that the benefits are fair |
| actually offer you. | | | | and reasonable. |
| | | | Find out more about dental insuranceInsurance |
| Who will select the dentist? | | | | Owl gives simple, clear information about |
| | | | insurance. Everything ranging from dental |
| Open Panel, you choose the dentist without any | | | | insurance to health insurance and indemnity claims |
| restrictions. | | | | including Auto, Travel, and Life Insurance. |