Affordable Dental Insurance - It Really is Possible!

If you think that affordable dental insurance is some kind of urban myth - somewhere along the lines of the Loch Ness Monster and the Boogey Man - think again. You really can find affordable dental coverage by following these 4 tips:

• Cut corners that don't apply to you

  Because there are so many dental insurance choices out there, you'll have a near-endless array of plans to choose from. If you do your homework, you'll see that some plans will come with coverage that you absolutely need, while others come with things that you don't. If, for example, you've already had braces, don't pay for a dental plan that includes orthodontic work. That way, you won't have to spend money on services that you don't need.
  
  In order to find the most affordable dental insurance, you'll need to take a look at your specific situation. Remember, dental coverage isn't one-size-fits-all.
  
  

• Don't just look at premiums

  Yes, you'll have to find dental insurance that comes with affordable monthly premium payments. However, low premiums don't necessarily mean you're getting an affordable plan. For example, your plan may charge teeny-tiny premiums - but, in order to make up for them, you've got a huge deductible to meet and massive copay amounts to pay whenever you walk into a dentist's office.
  
  Remember, affordable dental insurance is affordable all the way around - not just when it comes to your premium payments!
  
  

• Look at the network of dentists in your potential plan

  Most dental insurance plans will come with an approved list of providers that you have to go to if you want coverage. However, if your list doesn't include any dentists in your area, you're going to be out of luck - and stuck paying a whole lot more to visit an out-of-network dentist.
  
  

• Look at alternatives

  If you absolutely-positively cannot afford a traditional dental insurance plan, you can still get coverage. You just might need to look at alternatives. Things like a dental indemnity insurance plan or a discount dental plan can help you out with your dental costs, without costing you a ton of money in premiums.
  
  A discount dental plan offers just that - discounts on dental services and procedures. You'll pay for all of your own dental costs, but you'll do it at significantly reduced rates.
  
  A dental indemnity insurance plan has you pay for all of your dental bills yourself, then gets you reimbursed from your insurance company. Typically, though, you'll get reimbursed 100% on routine and preventative services, like cleanings and x-rays.