Benefits of Dental Insurance

Although purchasing dental insurance may not seem necessary, it can help protect your health as well as your finances. No matter how diligently you brush and floss at home, routine trips to the dentist are critical to maintaining good oral health. Dentists are trained to identify and resolve small problems before they become large ones that impact your health and bottom line. With an individual dental insurance plan, you will have access to the care you need to keep your smile healthy and happy. Furthermore, because dental insurance pays a portion of the cost associated with the treatment you need, having adequate coverage will help minimize your out-of-pocket expenses.

Covered Services

There are four broad categories of services that may be covered under most individual dental insurance plans, including basic, comprehensive basic, major and orthodontic. Basic services include routine cleanings, fillings, XRays, etc.; comprehensive basic services include more in-depth procedures like root canals; major services include the most extensive treatments, such as dentures, bridges and crowns; and orthodontic services include treatments designed to straighten a person’s teeth such as braces and retainers.

Some plans pay for some services, partially cover others and exclude some altogether. Furthermore, many plans have waiting periods before they will cover major and orthodontic services. It’s important to carefully review the services covered under each of the plans you’re considering to ensure they provide the protection you need.

Finding a Plan

Many companies offer their employees an employer-sponsored dental plan. If you work for an organization that provides this type of benefit, it is probably your best option for securing dental benefits. However, if your employer doesn’t offer a company-sponsored plan or you are unemployed, there are other ways you can obtain the coverage you need. You can either contact the insurance carrier directly to purchase a plan or you can work with a broker. While the insurance carrier will only be able to offer you plans they provide, a broker has access to plans from a variety of different insurers, offering you more options. In addition, a broker may have access to certain plans that are not available to the public through an insurance carrier.