Instead of Buying Dental Insurance, You May Want to Consider a Discount Plan

Dental insurance seems like a good idea, but as personal finance blog Smart Money points out, most plans cover very little. Instead, they suggest looking into Dental Price Clubs which offer discounts and can save you more money in the long run. The problem with dental insurance is that coverage is pretty poor. While rates are low and the cost of two yearly checkups are often fully covered, payouts for actual dental work are pretty low. Smart Money notes that payouts on most plans are between $1,000 and $2,000 per year, and those numbers haven't changed since the 70s. Instead, they suggest looking at discount plans (like the ones from Northeast Dental Plan, Careington, Brighter.com, and dentalplans.com). These plans cost between $75 and $150 per year and provide you with pre-negotiated lower rates. In their comparison, procedures through dental insurance and discount plans cost about the same the first time around, but because yearly maximums were quickly met with insurance the discount plans often saved more money for people requiring multiple procedures per year. It all came down to this: In the final analysis, experts say the new companies might be worth a look. With regular dental coverage, it's usually impossible to get back more than the cost of the premiums (because of co-pays and maximum annual reimbursements). In that sense, dental insurance is a form of pre-payment. But rather than gamble on how much coverage you might need, or wait to get all your work done, a discount plan may be a better deal to pay for, and get, your dental care when you need it. What's best for you will likely depend on the amount of dental work you need per year. You'll want to take a look at your current costs, the offerings available to you, and what will save you the most money. For more information, be sure to hit up the full post over at Smart Money.

Dental crisis could create 'State of Decay'

(CNN) -- Obamacare expands access to health insurance for tens of millions of people come January 1. Dental care for adults, however, is not included, and experts say we've got a potential oral health care crisis coming. Studies show that people who have insurance are more likely to get regular dental care. But only about 2% of older Americans have dental insurance of any kind, according to a new report. "Until we have an expansion of this kind of coverage, and until we have people really recognizing what this means for their overall health, I do believe we have an unimaginable tragedy on our hands," said Beth Truett, president and CEO of Oral Health America. Truett's organization published the report "State of Decay: Are older Americans coming of age without oral health care?" which shows that baby boomers -- who have, for the most part, kept their natural teeth -- could be facing some serious oral health problems over the next decade. People with low income and racial and ethnic minorities are particularly vulnerable, according to the report.

How to Choose a Dental Insurance

Why you need a dental insurance Dental Insurance is designed to pay the costs associated with dental care. Dental insurance offers a protection from unexpected dental expenses by paying all or a portion of the bills from dentists, and other providers of dental services. Most of us will need some kind of major dental work sometime in our lives. A dental insurance can help to deal with the cost of dental care without compromising our health by leaving any dental problems untreated. The increase on life expectancy has also increased the need for dental care in order to keep teeth in good condition. As we get older we may find ourselves in a greater risk to need major dental work even if we take good daily care of our teeth. This guide will help you to choose the dental insurance that best fits to your needs.

Choose a dental plan for overall well-being

Good oral health is part of your total health picture. And it’s not just about pearly whites and fresh breath. Healthy teeth can help you maintain a healthy body. Our affordable dental plans are designed to meet different needs – from dental discount plans to dental insurance, from single coverage to something that fits the whole family. With all of our plans, you get access to a large network of dental providers. And there’s no underwriting. That means you won’t be turned down because of dental problems you have now or have had in the past. If you qualify, be sure to check out our Veteran’s Package – a combination of discounts on dental care, vision care, prescriptions, and more exclusively for U.S. Veterans and their families.

DENTAL INSURANCE PROTECTS YOUR SMILE AND YOUR HEALTH

Dental insurance keeps you smiling. There are probably a lot of things you'd rather do than go to the dentist. But your teeth and gums are the gateway to good health. If you're unsure if you can afford dental coverage, you're like many American adults.1 But get ready to smile. If you're enrolled in a Cigna Individual or Family medical insurance plan, you can add dental coverage, too. That way, you can manage all your health care needs in one place. What's more convenient than that? If you don't have a Cigna Individual or Family medical insurance plan, you can still take advantage of Cigna's dental coverage. Cigna is pleased to offer a variety of dental preferred provider organization (PPO) plans to people of all ages who want their own separate Cigna dental plan. With a Cigna dental plan, you'll get coverage for many services, not just routine cleanings and X-rays. Save the most when you stay in network. But, whether you choose an in-network or out-of-network dentist or specialist, you’ll still enjoy a wide range of dental coverage, including: Preventive care (cleanings, routine x-rays, and more) Basic care (fillings, non-routine x-rays, basic restorative work) Major services (bridges, crowns, root canals and more) The new Cigna dental health plans include: myCigna Dental Preventive: No yearly maximum, no deductible, with Cigna paying 100% of in-network* preventive and diagnostic services, and discounts for restorative and orthodontia services. Read more about myCigna Dental Preventive myCigna Dental 1000: The plan pays up to $1,000 annually after the $50 individual/$150 family annual deductible. Coverage includes preventive, diagnostic and restorative services, with in-network discount for orthodontia.* Read more about myCigna Dental 1000 myCigna Dental 1500: The plan pays up to $1,500 annually with the same deductibles as myCigna Dental 1000. Coverage includes preventive, diagnostic and restorative services.** This plan also includes a $1,000 lifetime orthodontia benefit for all ages. Read more about myCigna Dental 1500 *Frequency limitations apply.