Dental care is essential for good overall health, but the cost of dental services can be a major barrier for many people. That’s where dental insurance comes in.
With so many different dental insurance plans available, it can be confusing to understand which one is the right option. Read on to know more about dental insurance, the different types of plans available, and what they cover. Let’s dive in.
Insurance or Benefits?
Dental insurance helps individuals pay for dental care. It typically involves paying a monthly premium in exchange for coverage that may include preventive care, basic procedures such as fillings, and major procedures such as root canals and crowns. Dental insurance plans may also have deductibles, co-payments, and annual maximums that limit the amount of coverage a person can receive in a given year.
Dental benefits, on the other hand, refer to the specific services that a dental insurance plan covers. These services include routine cleanings, exams, X-rays, fillings, and more extensive procedures such as bridges, crowns, and implants.
Dental benefits are the specific services a person is entitled to under their dental insurance plan. In contrast, dental insurance is the overall coverage that helps pay for those benefits.
Types of Plans
Dental plans are similar to health insurance plans in many ways, but they’re not the same. Most dental plans offer the following options:
Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)
These plans come with a network of participating dentists that have agreed to provide dental services to plan members at a reduced fee. These dentists are called “preferred providers.”
With a PPO dental plan, the member can visit any dentist they choose, but they will typically receive the most benefits when they visit a preferred provider within the plan’s network. Visiting a non-preferred provider may result in higher out-of-pocket costs for the plan member.
Dental Health Maintenance Organization (DHMO)
These plans provide dental care to members through a network of participating dentists. DHMO plans are often referred to as “dental HMOs.”
DHMO plans usually require little or no deductible. They also have lower out-of-pocket costs than other dental insurance plans, such as PPO plans. However, DHMO plans have some limitations, such as restrictions on the selection of providers and a requirement for a referral to see a specialist.
Discount or Referral Dental Plan
These plans offer access to a network of dentists who provide services at discounted rates to plan members. Discount or referral dental plans may be a good option for individuals who don’t have dental insurance and are looking for ways to reduce their out-of-pocket costs for dental care. They can also be a good option for individuals who need extensive dental work not covered under their traditional dental insurance plan.
However, it’s important to note that discount or referral dental plans don’t provide the same level of coverage as traditional dental insurance plans.
