What You Need To Know About Discount Dental Plans

By Nelda Powers


Discount dental plans allow members to get discounts after using the services of a dentist. Plan participants get to choose the dentist to visit from a list of participating dentists. These plans are different from dental insurance in that members do not pay monthly premiums. They only pay a single yearly fee and they can visit any dentist listed in a plan to enjoy discounts.

Participating dentists agree to charge less for their services in return for having their listings regularly displayed to a large list of patients. There is variation in the discounts offered in these plans. In general, you will enjoy lower rates depending on the type of services you use. For example, this plan may allow you to enjoy preventive and diagnostic services free and cover 80 percent of the cost of basic restorative services.

With many dental plans, you may save a significant amount of money on services like annual teeth cleaning and annual checkups. The main benefit of these programs is that they enable you to visit a dentist even when your budget is tight. They do not pay for the services you receive. Instead, they allow you to get discounts on the procedures you undergo at the practice of a dentist.

Most dental discount programs require service providers to list their fees. This lets you know how much each listed dentist charges. Another advantage of singing up for such programs is that you may include any family member you want. This can benefit people who are not your immediate family members.

Discount plans usually have cost sharing elements for members like coinsurance, copayments and deductibles. They help ensure that members pay low fees. These programs usually have a limit on the number of times a member can receive specific services. The age of a member can also determine the kind of discounts that he or she can receive.

Dental plans also have a limit on the amount of money they can pay for certain services in a year. After the yearly maximum is reached, participants cannot enjoy discounts on services until the next plan year. However, members who only use routine care services like X rays, exams and cleanings are highly unlikely to reach their annual maximums.

It is essential for members of dental programs to get estimates about the cost of services from their dentist. In this way, they will not get confused after they receive a bill from the professional. They can request their dentist to provide their insurers with a treatment plan so that they can know the amount of money they can save for being in a dental plan. Dentists may also be asked to provide an insurance company with X rays and other supporting documents so that their services can be pre approved.

Your insurance company may provide you with an estimate showing how much will be paid by the plan, the charges you have to pay, the amount that remains toward your deductible and whether you are close to reaching your benefit maximum. It is essential to choose discount dental plans that cover the services you need and also include the dentists you would like to visit. The providers of these programs offer detailed descriptions outlining service coverage, limitations, requirements and exclusions.




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