Here Are Some Low Cost Dental Insurance Alternatives

It's a tragedy any time something like this happens, but especially in this modern era. The United States has really dropped the ball on providing medical coverage to its citizens and the actual dental insurance policies available for sale here are either not adequate themselves or simply too expensive for many people to pay for. Private dental insurance for some families can run as much as $100.00 per month or more and for someone trying to support their family on under $20,000.00 a year, that's a lot of money to put out, especially if there's not an immediate need. Most dental insurance plans do not cover existing conditions either, unless you've owned the policy for more than a couple years and even then you still must pay a deductible and will have a maximum allowable annual benefit.

Most people don't think of things like seeing a dentist unless there's an actual need that occurs either personally or within the family. If they would change their thinking and get in to see a dentist for routine maintenance like cleanings and flouride treatments, they may not ever have any major dental expenses at all.

There are other options available for individuals, families and groups to see a dental care provider. These are known as Discount Dental Plans. These plans are not dental insurance, therefore you must still pay for your procedures at the time of your appointment, but by being a plan member you'll receive a substantial discount off of the services performed. Most major discount plans save you anywhere from 10-60% on things like cleanings, fillings, extractions, root canals and more. Some plans even allow for discounts on things like teeth whitening and cosmetic dentistry.

Also, some local colleges allow their dental students to "practice" basic dental procedures for very low cost to the general public. These students are carefully monitored by qualified dentists while they perform these procedures. Lastly, if you do receive state or federal assistance, such as Medicaid, make it a priority to find a dental care provider that will accept your plan BEFORE it becomes an emergency. You should always have a list with phone numbers for your primary care doctor, dentist and any other emergency numbers.

What happened to this young boy recently is a terrible tragedy and really tugs at my heart, especially because it just didn't have to happen. As a father of four children, I want everyone to be aware that there are inexpensive alternatives to traditional dental insurance that you can take advantage of in order to make certain that your child gets the dental care that they need.

Low Cost Dental Insurance Alternative - Where You Should Look

Upon closer inspection, you will also find that traditional dental insurance makes no economic sense. The fact is that for individuals and families, it is virtually impossible to come out ahead with dental insurance. This is because the insurance company must collect more money in premium than it pays out in dental benefits, or the insurance company soon goes out of business.

To ensure that you will not obtain more dollars in benefits than you pay in premium, dental insurance plans contain provisions which limit their exposure, including:

• waiting periods
• annual deductibles
• maximum allowable charges
• annual limits on benefits

In most cases, you must pay insurance premiums for a year or more before major dental services such as crowns or dentures are covered. After that, your benefits are typically limited to about $1000 to $1500 per year.

So is there something that offers cheaper, low-cost dental care?

The answer is yes, but you need to know where to look. You need to look for a low-cost dental plan (or discount dental plan).

Dental plans are not dental insurance. They work differently and they cost much less. Instead of reimbursing the dental office for work performed, a dental plan negotiates lower dental fees on behalf of its members. This is a win-win for everyone, because in return, participating dental offices obtain a steady stream of new patients, with no advertising cost or effort required.

Careington Dental Plan is one of America's oldest and largest plans. Using Careington as an example, savings typically run from 35% to 60% at a plan general dentist, and 20% off normal fees at a dental specialist. Best of all, there are no waiting periods for savings and existing dental conditions are accepted immediately.

Dental plans are also lower cost than dental insurance. But be sure to shop around, as the cost of dental plans can vary. The Careington Plan costs as little as $6.95 per month for an individual membership. Family plans run about $16 per month. Additional savings can be had by paying annually.

One drawback of dental plans is you must go to a participating plan dentist for all savings. So be sure to check the availability of participating dentists before you join any plan. This shouldn't be an issue if you live in or near a major metropolitan area. With Careington and most other plans, if you are not happy with a particular dentist, you are free to change and there is no waiting period required before going to the new dentist. You just need to make sure the new dental office is a participating plan dentist.

Everyone wants quality dental care at an affordable price. But for most people, low-cost dental insurance simply isn't a reality. However for most Americans, a good alternative is an affordable, low-cost dental plan.