4 ways to cover the cost of Dental Implants
You can use a variety of methods to help pay for dental implants
Dental implants are quickly becoming an extremely popular treatment for people who need a permanent solution to their dental problems. The good news is that with modern implant techniques, patients who previously had to rely on temporary solutions like glued bridges or dentures can have access to long lasting implants that look and feel like real teeth.
The bad news is that dental implants can be expensive, and in some parts of the country they can be very expensive. We’ll discuss some strategies you can implement to help cover the costs of your implant treatments in order to get the services you need without delay.
Get dental insurance for implants
Use financing methods like Care Credit
Don’t forget to use your medical savings
Ask dental offices for payments
Get a dental insurance plan with coverage for dental implants
One of the first things you should consider to help pay for dental implants is a dental insurance plan with coverage for implants. Keep in mind, dental insurance is only the first piece of the puzzle, but it can be an important one. Getting a dental insurance plan can have several benefits for implants that can help greatly reduce your cost of services.
First of all, PPO dental plans have a network of dental providers who will accept the carrier’s lower negotiated rates for services. These lower In-Network rates can be up to 30% less than normal retail rates. So by having a PPO dental plan and seeing an In-Network dentist, this can be an substantial savings on the front end.
After you consider network savings, you can then utilize the plan’s benefits for your services. Implants will usually fall into the category of major services for an insurance plan. With your treatment for implants, there will not only be charges for the implant, but also for the crown or partial bridge that will be attached to the implant. Fortunately, dental insurance can help with benefits for the various steps needed for implant treatments.
At EasyDentalQuotes, we recommend you consider a plan with no waiting periods and coverage for dental implants such as one with Renaissance Dental. But keep in mind that any plan payments will only be a certain percentage of the total cost, so you’ll still need to come up with additional funds. That’s where the next steps come in.
Use financing methods like Care Credit for dental implant treatments
After you’ve enrolled in the right dental insurance plan, you may want to consider other financing solutions to help with additional out of pocket costs after insurance payments. Fortunately, there are a variety of financing solutions available that you can use for dental and medical services.
Care Credit is a popular financing solution offered by many dental offices. These medical financing companies allow you to borrow money at rates that are typically lower than other consumer credit options like normal credit cards. This way you can decide what amount you would like to finance, and break it up into monthly payments for the length of time that suits your needs.
While it may not be the best idea to finance the entire amount on a credit card or with a medical finance company, it can help to use these vehicles to help offset a portion of your out of pocket expenses.
Don’t forget to use funds in your HSA and other savings accounts
An often overlooked source of money may be your own savings. If you have a savings account for medical services such as an HSA (health savings account), FSA (flexible spending account), or HRA (health reimbursement account), you can typically use these dollars for dental services such as dental implants. Some people think these funds are only for medical services, but the majority of accounts are also eligible for dental treatments as well.
If you don’t have a medical savings account such as an HSA, then you could consider tapping into some of your other savings. One of the ideas behind savings accounts is to save for a rainy day. And when your mouth hurts or your teeth are having problems, it can definitely count as a necessary expense that will help you in the long run.
Negotiate with dental providers to finance any remaining amounts
As you explore these methods to help with your dental implant costs, it’s also worth asking your dental office what options they offer for financing as well. Again it’s often best to split up your financing through various channels, but if you have additional monies still needed, it could be a good idea to see if the dentist will allow you to make monthly payments for any remaining amounts. Sometimes financing offered through a dental office may be free of interest charges if amounts are repaid in a timely manner.
Some dental offices can be very helpful to work with patients, while others may not offer this arrangement. But it never hurts to ask, as most providers are willing to work with their patients, especially if they know you’re using a variety of ways to come up with funds.
Be creative in financing your dental implant treatment and don’t give up
Hopefully these steps can help lead you in the right direction to cover your cost of getting dental implants. You can also think of other creative ways to obtain funds such as through family members, credit unions, and other sources. These are only a few ideas as there are countless other ways to raise funds.
While it can be a daunting task, with some persistence and effort, you can be sure to come up with a winning strategy to cover the cost for dental implants that will give you a long lasting smile. In the end, you’ll be so glad that you did.
Find dental plans with coverage for implants
