Why Do I Need Dental Insurance?
Ever question why you may need dental insurance?
Why does dental insurance exist? Sounds like a good question. Maybe you’ve thought this before. In truth some people can do without dental insurance and be just fine. However, for many people dental insurance provides access to necessary dental services and providers that they would otherwise be unable to afford.
Do you go to the dentist?
The dentist office can be a taboo topic for many. Some people avoid seeing the dentist due to a past bad experience or even just stories from others. However studies show that routine visits to a dental provider help maintain good oral health and prevent various types of oral disease and more severe issues of the mouth. When people avoid seeing the dentist, signs and symptoms that might be easily caught by a dentist can be overlooked and lead to tooth or gum pain that require more severe and expensive treatments to resolve.
How often should you go to the dentist?
Common oral health guidelines recommend seeing a dental practitioner once every 6 months or at least once a year. For those that choose to pay out of pocket, dental exams can potentially cost hundreds of dollars depending on the provider and procedures performed. Dental insurance can help cover these costs as most dental insurance plans include benefits for routine exams every six months or twice a year. Many times the cost of a dental insurance plan can pay for itself if you use the benefits for routine exams.
Get access to Large Networks of Dentists and Other Dental Providers
An often overlooked reason for getting a dental plan are provider networks. Most PPO dental insurance plans have a network of participating general dentists, pediatric dentists, endodontists, orthodontists, and other dental providers. With a dental insurance plan, members can choose from dentists in the network and enjoy additional savings due to the lower cost and charges the In-Network providers have agreed to accept. This In-Network savings is in addition to the benefits that a dental insurance plan will pay towards necessary services and procedures. And these lower costs per procedure are only available to plan holders and not those without insurance. Sometimes the network savings alone can bring sufficient value to a dental plan.
Major Dental Services are Expensive
If you have been to a dentist recently and were recommended more intensive dental services, you know that major dental work is expensive. Root canals, crowns, fillings, dentures, and other major services can easily run into multiple hundreds and thousands of dollars. And often, many treatment plans will involve multiple services like a root canal and then a crown. Without dental insurance, patients are required to pay for services out of pocket or go into debt to get necessary treatments. Often times patients are already having tooth or nerve pain that prevent them from delaying treatments. With a dental insurance plan, members are able to get access to the treatments they need, in a time of their choosing.
Dental Insurance makes Dental Services more Affordable
As stated before, many people cannot come up with large amounts of money out of their pocket to pay for some dental services. Dental insurance plans will often have cost sharing features for more involved dental work that can cover 50%, 60%, 80% or more of the charges. Many dental insurance plans will have annual benefit maximums that can range from $1000 to $3000 that the plan will pay. And a number of plans even cover routine exams at 100%. Therefore, it’s fair to say that having dental insurance can encourage members to use their routine benefits and make other services more affordable when they need them.
Dental Insurance can help pay for Orthodontic services like Braces
Another expensive area of dental practice is orthodontia. Orthodontic services have become more popular for children, teenagers, and even adults. However many people struggle to come up the necessary funds to pay for orthodontic services they may need or want. A large number of dental insurance plans also include benefits for orthodontic services like braces, spacers, and retainers. Many dental plans will have a lifetime benefit maximum for orthodontia that may range from $1000 to $2000 or more. This additional benefit included in dental plans can help offset the costs of orthodontic services, while also providing coverage for regular dental needs.
Is it right for you?
As we’ve discussed, there are many reasons why someone would choose to get a dental insurance plan. From access to large dental provider networks to savings and cost sharing on dental treatments, dental insurance plans can help make dental services accessible and affordable. If you decide to pursue getting a dental insurance plan or just to learn more, EasyDentalQuotes is here to help with fast quotes, informative resources, and superior service. We work hard to make dental insurance easy so that you can have affordable access to the dental services you need.
Try our “Easy One Step” dental quotes
