If you've just started shopping for a dental health insurance plan, you're probably amazed by all of the different choices. After all, it seems like there is an endless array of policies and options out there to choose from!
If you want comprehensive dental coverage that doesn't break the bank, you'll likely wind up choosing a dental health insurance plan from these 3 popular options:
If you're looking for a "traditional" dental health insurance plan, this is definitely it! Under a dental PPO plan, you pay premiums every month, pay copays when you head to the dentist, and have to meet certain deductibles. It's no different than a PPO health plan - only the costs to you are much, much lower.
Under a dental PPO plan, you'll have to pick from your insurance company's approved list of dentists. By going to a dentist on the list, you'll save your insurance company some money - which, in turn, will save you money down the road.
If you're looking to take care of your teeth AND your eyes, your best bet is to bundle your dental and vision insurance. By buying both policies from the same insurance company, you'll get to save a little bit of money every month on both sets of premiums. That way, you can either put more money into savings or afford to upgrade your policies without breaking your budget.
After all, most health insurance policies have started cutting out dental and vision insurance. If you need both types of coverage anyways, you might as well save some money on them!
This type of dental health insurance plan works a little differently. Dental indemnity insurance is officially known as a "fee for service plan" - meaning that you have to pay for all of your dental services and procedures first, then get reimbursed by your insurance company.
Why is that a good deal?
When you have dental indemnity insurance, you don't have to adhere to any kind of list, like you do under a dental PPO plan. Instead, you have the freedom to go to any dentist you want.
Do you get fully reimbursed?
Under most dental indemnity insurance plans, the amount you get back depends on the treatment you got. In most cases, preventative care - like routine cleanings, x-rays, and check-ups - are 100% reimbursed. For other services, you may only get 70% or 80% of your money back - and that's after you meet your deductible.