What Types of Dental Plans are Available?

Before you can choose the right dental plan for your needs, you need to know what types of dental plans are available. The problem is if you have ever tried to look for a dental plan, you know that there are many different ones available. Sometimes it can be hard to sift through the many options and find the one that is right for you and your needs.

However, dental treatment with no dental coverage at all is very expensive and a dental emergency can literally break you in many situations. This is why it is important for you to research the different options available and choose the best one for your needs. Whether it is individual coverage, family coverage or group or business coverage, you need to know what is available to you so you can make an informed decision.

Here is an overview of the different types of dental plans which are available to you. This should help you in choosing dental service coverage that you can depend on to meet your dental health needs.

Discount or Referral Plans

Of the many different types of plans out there, you will see many different products available. Some of these are not actually dental insurance at all. You may have seen these services advertised on TV or even over the Internet and radio. Sometimes advertisements come in the mail for them as well. While these plans may be able to save you money on your dental treatments, they are not the same as insurance and they are not offered by an insurance provider.

Instead, these are ran by a third party program who has contact with certain dentists and dental offices who agree to be part of the plan. Basically the dentists that join this plan agree to offer lower prices in exchange for referrals to their offices. You, the patient, get a discount when you sign up for membership with these plans and go to one of the dentists on the list.

With these discount and referral plans, you will pay a fee to the third party company to become a member of the dental plan but your payments for services rendered will be direct between you and the dentist that you choose from the available ones on the plan. The dentist will then offer you the discounted rates that were previously set on the plan’s fee list.

Dental Insurance Plans

That brings us to dental insurance plans and there are many different types of these available as well. You may have an insurance plan offered to you at your place of employment. Many people, however, do not have this option or may not be able to afford the insurance that is offered by their employers. But this is not the only option you have for choosing dental care assistance. If you do not want the insurance provided by your employer or if you do not have any being offered to you, there are other options for plans as well. Here is some more information about the types of insurance plans to help you know what is available.

Of the different types of dental insurance plans, most fall into one of two categories:

• Traditional insurance plans
• Managed care dental insurance plans

Below is a better description of each of these and what they mean to you as the consumer/patient.

Traditional Insurance Plans:

These are sometimes also called indemnity dental insurance plans and can also include UCR (usual, customary and reasonable) insurance and table of allowances dental insurance. In this type of insurance, the dental plan will provide payment for the treatment you receive on a fee-for-service basis. Some things will be covered by the insurance provider in full and for other types of treatment or procedures, the plan will cover from 50-80% normally (although some plans may cover more).

With these types of plans, you will be responsible for paying the portion that your dental insurance does not cover. Often this is due at the time the services are rendered but sometimes you can make payments on the remaining balance. In most of these types of insurance, there will be a list of dentists and dental providers for you to choose from in your area so you have more of a selection of who you visit for your treatment.

Managed Care Dental Insurance Plans:

These plans refer to dental health maintenance organizations (HMOs), preferred provider organization (PPOs), and exclusive provider organization (EPO) dental plans of all types. In an HMO, an arrangement is made in which the dentist or dentist office is contracted and has agreed to provide treatment for enrolled members of the plan. The treatment and the fees will vary according to your individual plan but most will cover all the costs of certain treatments (such as preventative cleanings and checkups) and partial payments on other procedures. You will usually be required to make a co-payment at the time the services are rendered.

PPOs work similar to HMOs and use what are considered a “closed panel” of dental service providers and is similar to a combination of HMO service and indemnity insurance. EPOs is also similar to PPOs but you have fewer options regarding your treatments. Most managed care dental insurance plans have very low fees and are more affordable for the average person. While your options are sometimes lower, the fees are lower, too which is something most people can agree is a good thing.

This information should help you understand the differences between the types of dental plans available and also help you in choosing the right one for you and your needs. While there is a lot of information to process and it can sometimes seem complicated, getting dental insurance doesn’t have to be. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to get important coverage because you are unsure of what type you should get or you are afraid you cannot afford it. With so many different options to choose from, anyone who needs it should be able to find an insurance plan that will meet their needs.