Monday, September 11, 2006

Dental Insurance For Cheaper Then You Think


Most major companies offer dental insurance, but if you're self employed like me or your company does not offer dental insurance you still have many options out there. Many people think dental insurance just cost too much money so they never even take a look at it. I was one of those people. It wasn't till 7 years later after one of my teeth started to hurt that I actually looked at individual dental coverage. I was shocked to learn I could get a half way descent plan for under a hundred dollars a year. The better plans were still under two hundred dollars a year. Dental insurance for individuals is available from many different sources, and those looking for insurance should carefully consider all of the programs available.

Dental insurance for people can and will vary in cost. There are many variables such as age, were you live, how many people you insure. Most dental insurance plans will cover a wide range of dentists but if you already belong to a dentist make sure your plan has them listed as a provider unless you do not mind switching dentists. The people who are open to a new dentist will have more options when seeking dental insurance for individuals. Keep in mind that even though a plan may not have your dentist listed you should still look at it, sometimes the saving may be worth switching.

Different Rates and Benefits for Different Plans

Dental plans can vary a lot when it comes to benefits. You may find that insurance provider A has a max pay out of one thousand dollars a year, were as dental insurance provider B pays out up to three thousand. This might just be a big deal to you if you have extensive dental work that needs to be done. The dental plan will out line how much can be paid out along with a long list explaining how there program works. It is important to read it all. Pay extra attention to the small print. A smart consumer will compare and write down the major differences between the plans so they can get the best deal possible.

Different dental plans will cover different procedures at a different rate. This can make a huge difference to your bottom line. For instance if you still have your wisdom teeth in and they are starting to bother you, you need to take that into consideration. The cost can easily go for $400 hundred a tooth to get out. If you already know you have cavities and will most likely need fillings see how much each provider will pay for that specific item. When my 4 year old went to the dentist for the first time he had 6 cavities and need 6 fillings. We brush and floss his teeth every day and rarely give him candy but cavities are a part of life. Some plans for individuals will pay some or all of the costs for dentures. The expenses for orthodontics and dentures can be high. If you need dentures be sure to find out if the plan covers it. Most plans cover the basic services that are necessary to good dental health. These services include cleanings, fillings and extractions that are necessary. Such luxury items like teeth whitening are not covered in most plans because this is considered a cosmetic feature and not needed to keep your teeth healthy.

The best way to find a good deal is just to open up that phone book and call around. You can also do a search online for "your city dental insurance". This will pull up a wide range of information. Taking care of your teeth is very important, after all your smile like it or not helps to define us and having a good set of teeth can make a great first impression.

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