Looking for a Dental Plan? 3 Options to Keep in Mind

Are you looking for a dental plan that fits in with your lifestyle and also fits into your budget?  The key is to shop around -- and to consider a variety of options.  Here are 3 that you absolutely need to consider:

• Family dental insurance

  If you've got a spouse and kids, getting family dental insurance is a no-brainer!  After all, you all need the coverage.  Why not bundle everyone together and save some money on it?

  Here's how the insurance companies look at it -- any time you can have more people in your insured "group", the lower your rates will be.  So, by having your wife and your 3 kids in your "group", you'll wind up paying less per person than you would if you had an individual dental plan.

• A discount dental health plan

  If you're not looking for "traditional" insurance, a discount dental health plan is a great way to get the coverage you need, at a lower price.
  How does it work?

  Under a discount dental plan, you pay an annual fee for access to a special discount card.   Then, when you head to the dentist, you'll get 50% off on your cleanings, or 30% off on your x-rays.  You'll wind up paying the entire discounted amount by yourself, but you'll also only have to pay for the services and procedures you actually need.   If you don't go to the dentist very much, a discount dental health plan can be a great way to save money!
   

• A dental PPO plan

  Whether you're looking for individual dental plan or family coverage, a dental PPO plan is usually the most affordable option for "traditional" insurance.   The key to these plans lies in the list.

  What does that mean?

  Every dental PPO plan comes with a list of providers that have been approved by your insurance company.  As long as you go to a dentist or specialist on this list, you'll have full access to all of your benefits.  If you go to someone who's not on the list, you may wind up paying for more -- or even all -- of your services.

  Luckily, the dentists on that list agree to give your insurance company discounts.   That way, the money that your insurance company saves can be passed onto you -- in the form of lower premiums, fewer copays, and smaller deductibles.