Dental Insurance – We Have Got You Covered!
With dental insurance, we have your back! Healthcare is expensive, especially dental care, the treatments can cost you an arm and a leg, and many would not be able to afford good oral hygiene if it were not for the dental insurance. Hence, it is crucial to know your options and the best plan while shopping for dental insurance. People who are regular with their routine dental exams and check-ups know very well what they are getting into. However, there are always the first-timers or a few who did not have a dental insurance plan for years that need to know everything about the HMO and PPO insurance plans.
Dental Insurance Plans- Which One Do You Need?
Are you confused about what insurance plan you should sign? Well, we do not blame you; the Internet has a plethora of information and paints a better picture every time, making it hard for you to reach a decision. Therefore, to help you decide the fate of your dental health, we have narrowed down the best choices for you with their pros and cons, so you do not fall for any scams! If you are living in the U.S., you can choose different plans such as:
Traditional dental insurance plans cover the complete or partial cost of the dental bill, depending on the dental treatment you got. For simple procedures like scaling, dental x-rays, or routine dental exams, these plans cover 100% of your bill, and you would not have to pay a dime. However, with more extensive dental procedures such as fillings, they only cover 80% of the cost and only 50% for procedures such as root canal treatment, crowns, dentures, and bridges. The rest has to be paid for by you.
PPO plans: it stands for Preferred Provider Organization and these plans are almost the same as the traditional dental insurance plans. However, they are cheaper, and the dentist is paid less. The company pays 40%-60% less than the original fees of the approved procedures to the dentist. For example, if a dentist charges $100 for scaling, the dental bill will be $60 as per the insurance plan, and even from the $60, the patient will have to pay a small amount, for example, $30, while the insurance company will pay the rest.
HMO plans: it stands for Health Maintenance Organization and these dental insurance plans are opposite from any other plans. You select a primary care dentist, or you are assigned one who will get fixed monthly fees from your insurance company, and you will have to stick with them for every dental procedure unless it is an emergency.
Reduced fee plans: it is similar to the PPO plan; however, after the reduced fee from the dentist (about 40%), the insurance plan will cover no more expenses, and the remaining 60% of the dental bill has to be paid by the insurance alone.
Amongst all of these plans, HMO and PPO plans are considered the most beneficial. However, no matter what plan you choose, with these plans, there is a limit to the money you can spend on the dental treatments such as $1000, $2000, or $2500, if you go off the limit, the insurance will not cover it unless you get the plan renewed for next year.
HMO and PPO Dental Insurance- What Do The Plans Cover?
HMO and PPO dental plans usually cover 100% of the minor preventive dental procedures such as checkups and dental cleanings. However, if you are insured under a PPO plan, you will have to pay a deductible fee upfront even before your insurance claims are put into action, unlike with the HMO dental plans. If you have to undergo a restorative or cosmetic dental treatment, you will have to pay your dental bill. With the HMO dental insurance plan, you will have to pay a copay- previously agreed, flat rate. While for the PPO plans, you will have to pay a percentage of the total dental bill of your procedure- the coinsurance.
The annual maximum insurance limit is another crucial point you would want to consider before getting these dental plans. If you opt for the HMO plans, the company might not forge an annual maximum. However, with the PPO plan, the annual maximum is about $1000, which will be the highest dental bill your insurance company will cover for you. PPO dental plans allow you to claim your dental benefits from any dentist you choose from a vast network, but in the HMO plan, you have no choice when it comes to the dentist; you get what you get! Getting on board with a dental insurance plan is a big commitment, and you must abide by all the rules and amendments to claim the benefits.
Make Good Choices With Dental Insurance Plans!
To decide which plan –HMO or PPO- is better for you, consider your priorities; in the HMO plans, you may pay less but have no control over the quality of dental treatments you will receive. However, with PPO, you pay more and have greater control over your dental health. In the end, the decision is always yours!
