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Everything You Need to Know About Dental Insurance

Salgra Dental Group
pen sitting on top of dental claim form

Dental Insurance is similar to healthcare insurance in that it helps you pay for your dental-related healthcare expenses. Depending on your employer, you may get offered an HMO, PPO, or an Indemnity dental insurance plan for yourself and your family. Many employers offer more than one type of dental insurance, in which case you can choose which type of plan suits your needs the best.

Different Types of Dental Insurance:

For most employers, you will find that they offer 3 different types of dental insurance including HMO, PPO, and Indemnity plans. Each of these plans has its specific ways of working. It will be up to you to choose a plan that works best for your specific dental needs. The following provides some information to keep in mind as you choose which plan can work best for you:

  • HMO Dental Plan: HMO Dental Plans will require you to pick a dentist within your network, or they will not cover your expenses. If you have a variety of dentists that are easily available to you, then an HMO plan may end up working out just fine. However, if you can't find a dentist within your network, you will have to pay 100% of costs on your own, which could see you spending a lot of unnecessary money on dental expenses.
  • PPO Dental Plan: PPO Dental Plans will also provide you with a list of in-network dentists that you can select. However, they are also willing to cover part of your dental expense if you are seeing a dentist that is out of network. Most people like this program since you can get at least some coverage at any dentist that you wish to see.
  • Indemnity Dental Plan: An Indemnity Dental Plan allows you to use these plans to see any dentist no matter what that dentist's network status. The plan will only pay a certain percentage of the cost that you have. However, the dentist can set whatever price they want as they do not see you as a patient through any one specific network.

These are the 3 main types of insurance plans. Different ones will fit different people depending on their specific needs.

What Does Dental Insurance Cover? What Isn't Covered?

Dental Insurance will usually cover only your essential (necessary) dental care. Preventative care such as annual X-Rays, cancer screenings, and your regular cleanings will get covered by your insurance. If you need a filling or a tooth extraction your insurance will help cover that. These are considered required care items, and insurances will cover that.

However, if you want something cosmetic done in the dental field, that will rarely be covered. Treatments like bleach whitening or veneers are going to have to come completely out of your pocket. Your insurance will likely not cover any part of these elective treatments, making the cost completely your responsibility.

How Do I Choose the Best Insurance Plan:

Choosing insurance plans will require you to consider your personal dental needs. Everyone needs something different from their dental insurance. Determine what you will help you decide which type of dental insurance works the best for you. The following are some factors to consider when you are choosing dental insurance plans that fit your needs:

  • where you live
  • how extensive your dental need is now and what you will likely need in the future
  • how many dentists got located in your geographic area
  • what dental networks are popular where you live
  • if you can find a qualified dentist that meets your needs in your geographic
  • if you will need to switch dentists frequently to meet changing oral health needs
  • the number of deductibles you are willing/can afford to pay each year

Once you consider these items, you will then be in a position to make a decision on which dental insurance plan works best for you.

What If I Don't Have Dental Insurance?

Most dentists offer various plans that allow you to pay for your dental care over the weeks/months following your treatments. When considering a dentist, you will want to look for one that has a plan that includes the following perks:

  • plans with low-fixed or no interest rates
  • low up-front payments as possible (much as you can pay at the time)
  • plans that will allow you to pay off your expenses EARLY without any penalty fees getting assessed
  • plans that require weekly/monthly payments (whichever best fits your needs)

When you find a dentist that offers these types of flexible pay-back plans, then you can get the dental treatment you need and pay for it on a schedule that fits your needs.

Salgra Dental's Payment Options:

Salgra Dental is proud to offer patients without dental insurance a comprehensive payment plan that gets aimed at being customized to fit the patient's needs. Our "Credit Care Lending Club" allows patients to 6 to 24 months to pay back their dental expenses with no prepayment penalties. Our program helps you set up a payment plan that works for you and receive the quality services we provide, even if you don't have dental insurance at the time. Our low fixed rates ensure that the majority of your money goes to paying your actual dental expenses and that interest does not build up rapidly throughout the time you need to pay off your expenses.

At Salgra Dental, we offer easy, convenient payment options through our "Credit Care Lending Club" please feel free to contact usfor further assistance. Give us a call at 954-967-8280 to set up an appointment today and to take advantage of our credit care program to help you get the dental treatment you need on a payment plan that fits your budget.

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