Dental plans can be part of regular health insurance coverage or additional insurance policies that people purchase to cover dental care. Some insurance companies that provide the person’s health insurance do not cover dental care unless a dental plan is also purchased. Some dental plans are coupled with vision insurance plans.
Traditional dental plans charge a monthly premium for coverage. The average premiums cost approximately thirty dollars per month for an individual or slightly over one hundred dollars per month for family coverage. Many insurance plans have a deductible that must be paid towards needed dental care before the insurance begins contributing to the dental care costs. A typical deductible is fifty dollars per year.
People with traditional dental insurance plans have to pay a co-pay for office visits. The co-pay amount may range from ten dollars to twenty-five dollars. Dental plans usually have limits to how much of a benefit the person receives in a year. Some plans have a maximum limit of five hundred dollars, while others may allow a person to receive up to twelve hundred dollars in benefits.
Discount dental plans are not typical dental insurance plans. Instead of covering a percentage of needed dental care, discount plans offer cheaper prices for dental care. These plans often have set prices for cleanings, fillings, and crowns. Other dental care needs may not be covered.
The benefits of a discount dental plan are the discounted price and lower monthly premiums than traditional dental plans. Discount dental plans rarely have any limits as to how often the person can receive dental care and use the plan. Instead of paying an annual deductible for dental care, the discounted price is in effect from the first time of use.
Some orthodontists and dentistry practices offer dental plans for families in the form of discounts for families. For example, a family with three children is in need of orthodontic services for all three children can cause significant financial concern for the parents. However, some orthodontic practices charge full price for the first child and discounts for other children in the family in need of their services for dental plans.
