Brushing and flossing at home is just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to maintaining oral health for the long run. In addition to a strict at-home oral hygiene routine, seeing a dentist regularly is also necessary, and this is where it comes in handy to buy dental insurance.
If you’re worried about the cost of insurance, don’t be! There are many plans designed specifically for individuals in search of affordable coverage.
Even if it’s your first time shopping for dental insurance, you’ll get the hang of things quickly because it isn’t complicated. Once you know what to look for in a plan, you’ll be able to get the support you need to rest assured you won’t break the bank when you need to see the dentist for routine or emergency care.
Do you really need to buy dental insurance, especially if you’re young and healthy? Put simply, yes; it’s a great idea to have this type of coverage because receiving professional level dental care on a regular basis is one of the most important ways to ensure the health of your teeth and gums. And, by taking care of your whole mouth now, you might be able to reduce the risk of developing more serious problems later on.
Besides coverage for preventive care and treatments for common problems like cavities, dental insurance will also be there to help in an emergency. As an example, you might need emergency care to restore your smile if you accidentally damage a tooth while playing sports. With the right policy, you can get the financial help you need, so you can focus more on recovering.
As an adult, you might also end up developing problems with your jaw. A common ailment is TMD or TMJ, which may be the result of clenching and grinding your teeth when stressed. If your jaw clicks or you’re experiencing pain, being able to receive high-quality care without worrying about the cost will put your mind at ease. Shop affordable dental insurance plans.
Did you know that health/medical insurance doesn’t cover dental care? So, if you don’t have the right plan, and you need to go to the dentist for a checkup and cleaning, you’ll be responsible for paying the entire bill out of pocket. And if you’re diagnosed with a condition like gum disease or a problem like tooth decay, you’ll also need to foot the bill all on your own. Ouch!
As an individual, you’re in complete control of your finances, which is great. But this also means that you can only rely on yourself to pay all of your expenses. And when those dental bills hit – whether they were expected or unexpected – they might be harder on your wallet than you anticipated.
Here’s a breakdown of some common dental procedures and what they might cost, on average:
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Costs can quickly add up, but with individual dental insurance, you can bring down what you’re required to pay out-of-pocket. That means you won’t have to sacrifice your oral health, and you won’t need to worry about how you’ll be able to afford care.
There are a variety of treatments and procedures that you can undergo at the dentist’s office, and these are placed into categories. From there, your insurer will provide a certain amount of coverage.
Always read the fine print on a plan before signing up, especially when it comes to the level of coverage you’ll receive for in-network versus out-of-network dentists.
Generally, the best dental insurance plans work like this:
Preventive care, such as exams, cleanings, and X-rays, might be covered 100% by the insurance.
Basic procedures, such as fillings, extractions, and root canals, might be covered at 80% by the insurance, which means you’d be responsible for covering 20% of the cost.
Major procedures, such as crowns, bridges, and implants might be covered at 50% by the insurance, which means you’d be responsible for the other half of the cost.
When you’re ready to buy dental insurance, you’ll notice that there are different types of plans, and each type offers its own pros and cons. Here are some of the most common options:
PPO – You can use an out-of-network dentist, but your out-of-pocket costs will be higher.
HMO – You’ll need to use an in-network dentist to receive coverage.
Indemnity – You can choose any dentist, but you might be required to pay the entire bill upfront, file a claim, and then be reimbursed up to a certain amount by the insurer.
The great thing about dental insurance is that there are a lot of providers to choose from, so you can find an affordable plan easily. As you shop for dental insurance for individuals, look for out-of-pocket costs like a premium, deductible, co-insurance, and copay. Also, keep in mind that some services, such as cosmetic procedures, might not be covered by all plans.
Any plan that provides consistent coverage at a price you can afford is a good place to start. But you’ll also want to be sure the plan suits your unique needs. So, if you want to know that major services will be covered, definitely keep that in mind while you shop. Or, if you want to be sure you can select any dentist, that’s also something that you’ll want to look for when comparing plans.
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