It's one of the most popular health requests suggested to employers, but in tough times, dental insurance is one of the first things to go. As more of these plans are cut, dental discount plans are becoming more attractive. Unlike insurance, these plans don't have exclusions for preexisting conditions and no waiting period as with most insurance. These plans can vary drastically, but the key is to understand your needs before you start your search, so you don't overpay for a plan you can't really use. After all, how affordable is the "cheap" plan if it doesn't cover the procedures your mouth needs?
Instructions
Find Affordable Discount Dental Health Plans
1. Start with preventive care. After the "emergency" problems are fixed, you'll have ongoing maintenance to assure you don't end up with costly crowns and again. Some, but not all, of the plans pick up the total tab for cleaning and other preventive procedures. A plan that does offer this is a good bargain, as every six months, Americans typically drop at least $100 on cleanings alone.
2. Evaluate the big procedures you need. After you have the preventive sorted out, you need to revisit your dentist or get X-rays to see what work needs to be done. When you know this, you'll be able to pick a plan that best suits your needs (and, in doing so, you'll find the most cost-effective plan). Why get a more expensive plan if you don't need root canals, and why get a plan that covers only a small percentage of a major procedure if your mouth needs a lot of work?
3. Assess bundled services. If you have contacts, lots of prescriptions or hearing aids, a plan that offers savings on other health needs makes sense. Just be sure to evaluate how much savings the plan offers in each area. Typically, these plans offer 10 to 60 percent discounts for dental procedures, but that can differ for vision, hearing, chiropractic or drug offerings.
4. Read the list of offerings carefully. Typically, you can compare plans side by side. Most offer a list of services that are discounted and the typical costs for these procedures with those discounts. Sometimes, the plans differ quite dramatically. For example, a root canal with plan A may cost $200 more than with plan B. A lot depends on perceived value. Your perception of the plan with the $300 root canal will be much higher obviously if you need a number of root canals than the one with the $500 root canal.
5. Seek out introductory promos. Don't let this play a preeminent role in your decision, but some promos can save you more than $100 (depending on the plan cost). Many plans offer, for example, three months of fees waived just for joining.
6. Know your doctors. Dentists have agreed to partner on the plan to offer services at reduced rates. You can't put a price on a good dentist and one you trust, so be sure to factor member doctors into the overall assessment of the plan's value.
Tags: plan that, root canal, root canals, Affordable Discount, Affordable Discount Dental