Q.:I need an insurance policy for dentures. I need a plan that does not exclude seniors. I need dental insurance for seniors that will cover my extractions and dentures.
I have osteoporosis. I had a triple bypass surgery. I am on 19 medicines now. This has been taking toll on my teeth. 13 of them must now come out. I do have United Concordia dental plan now but that plan does not cover crowns, it does not cover dentures, and I even have to wait until the next year to get more extractions done. My annual maximum is $1,000! My husband is not happy with the plan either. He has all his teeth still. He had to pay $110 out of his own pocket last time he visited the dentist. The quote I got for extractions and dentures I need was $6,000! And I have inquired with other places such as Affordable Dentures, where I would only pay $450. However I am questioning the quality of the dentures for such a low price. I have an appointment with yet another dentist on Thursday to see what my third opinion and quote will be. I want the plan for later too, my husband will want to continue to see a dentist on a regular basis. Even me with the dentures, I will want to be sure just in case I lose a tooth that I will have coverage ready.
N. L., Schluyhillhaven, GA
A.: N. L., First off, you are doing the right thing, checking out several dentist's offices and comparing the quality of work and the prices. A lot of insurances in the USA today are like that, not keeping up with the true costs. The insurances have ridiculously low annual maximums (same as 40 years ago) that do not come even close to covering dental costs of today. The dental costs as you may know have even surpassed inflation by a significant margin. Annual maximums simply never kept pace.
What I can suggest is to continue to look for the best quality at the lowest price. This time, however, visit a dentist that participates with one of the discount dental plans. That way you will get at least 20% savings, possibly as much as 65% on your needed extractions and dentures. And, you will not need to wait another year to get your dentures. There are no annual maximums unlike with the plan you have now, no limitations of any kind, just straight discounts. So you won't have to worry about the cost so much anymore.
Just focus on the quality and make sure you like the dentist and you feel confident they will do a great job. So you will get dentures that will serve you well for a good number of years to come.
--Dental Cool
Resources
Dental discount plans
Dental insurance comparison
Showing posts with label dental insurance plans. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dental insurance plans. Show all posts
Friday, December 11
Dental Implants Insurance Vs. Dental Implants Discount: Three Ways To Save Money
Dental implant procedure is becoming a commonplace today in the USA. The relative simplicity compared to root canal and crown treatment, a minimal chance of complications, and modern implant materials and procedures are making dental implant service a viable alternative to root canal and crown or a dental bridge. The question remains, and is asked of Dental Cool a lot: Can I get dental implants affordably.
With the price of an implant ranging from $1500 to $3000 or more for a single tooth, combined with the fact that many patients require several implants, the dental implants procedure is not cheap. How can you save money on dental implants?
One way of course is to shop around. Dentists determine their own price based on their cost, area in which they do business, within the general guidelines from American Dental Association. In this economy where access to capital is quite limited, a dentist may give you a lower price in exchange for a cash payment or a payment in a few installments.
The second way is to purchase a dental insurance that covers dental implants. Recently, several insurances are offering coverage for dental implants. This was not the case in the past when only the highest-level insurances even included dental implants. When picking up a dental insurance, watch for several "details" usually buried in the small print that could cost you dearly: Look into and ask about the "exclusion clauses". Do the exclusion clauses include dental implants or crowns? Look into "waiting periods". Are waiting periods pertaining to dental implants? They can be a year, sometimes two years long. Thirdly, what are the annual maximums of the given dental implant insurance plan? Are they comparable to the total cost of the dental implant work that you need? And, last, make sure you have qualified dentists in your area that are trained and perform dental implant surgery routinely.
The third and the simplest way to reduce cost of your dental implants is to purchase a solid, nationwide discount dental plan. Most of nationwide discount dental plans include dental implants. The savings will be anywhere from 15% to 25% on the implant work and 25% to 65% on the associated crown work. There is no question about "exclusion clauses" with dental implant discount plans - most of them include implant work. There are no waiting periods - you can use the plan as soon as you receive your package with the plan cards in the mail. Also, if you do need several dental implants, there are no annual maximums so there will be no surprises. With the discount dental plans for dental implants you are expected to pay the discounted price at the time of service. However, usually a dentist will probably be able to extend a payment plan to you. This will further help your finances. And, just like with the dental implant insurances, be sure to have a qualified local dentist or specialist in the network. A dentist you can trust and who has a solid record of performing dental implant procedures.
The three ways you can save money on dental implants do not preclude each other. You can use one of them and you can use all three of them for the same implant procedure. You can shop around for a great dentist that will take both your dental implant insurance and dental implant discount plan. Just make sure the dentist office participates with all the plans that you purchase.
--Dental Cool
Recommended Links
Check for participating dentists with dental implant insurance plans here.
Check for participating dentists with dental implant discount plans here.
With the price of an implant ranging from $1500 to $3000 or more for a single tooth, combined with the fact that many patients require several implants, the dental implants procedure is not cheap. How can you save money on dental implants?
One way of course is to shop around. Dentists determine their own price based on their cost, area in which they do business, within the general guidelines from American Dental Association. In this economy where access to capital is quite limited, a dentist may give you a lower price in exchange for a cash payment or a payment in a few installments.
The second way is to purchase a dental insurance that covers dental implants. Recently, several insurances are offering coverage for dental implants. This was not the case in the past when only the highest-level insurances even included dental implants. When picking up a dental insurance, watch for several "details" usually buried in the small print that could cost you dearly: Look into and ask about the "exclusion clauses". Do the exclusion clauses include dental implants or crowns? Look into "waiting periods". Are waiting periods pertaining to dental implants? They can be a year, sometimes two years long. Thirdly, what are the annual maximums of the given dental implant insurance plan? Are they comparable to the total cost of the dental implant work that you need? And, last, make sure you have qualified dentists in your area that are trained and perform dental implant surgery routinely.
The third and the simplest way to reduce cost of your dental implants is to purchase a solid, nationwide discount dental plan. Most of nationwide discount dental plans include dental implants. The savings will be anywhere from 15% to 25% on the implant work and 25% to 65% on the associated crown work. There is no question about "exclusion clauses" with dental implant discount plans - most of them include implant work. There are no waiting periods - you can use the plan as soon as you receive your package with the plan cards in the mail. Also, if you do need several dental implants, there are no annual maximums so there will be no surprises. With the discount dental plans for dental implants you are expected to pay the discounted price at the time of service. However, usually a dentist will probably be able to extend a payment plan to you. This will further help your finances. And, just like with the dental implant insurances, be sure to have a qualified local dentist or specialist in the network. A dentist you can trust and who has a solid record of performing dental implant procedures.
The three ways you can save money on dental implants do not preclude each other. You can use one of them and you can use all three of them for the same implant procedure. You can shop around for a great dentist that will take both your dental implant insurance and dental implant discount plan. Just make sure the dentist office participates with all the plans that you purchase.
--Dental Cool
Recommended Links
Check for participating dentists with dental implant insurance plans here.
Check for participating dentists with dental implant discount plans here.
Thursday, December 3
Dental School Clinic Inconvenient, Want Dental Insurance Rates
Q.:I would like information on dental insurance rates, on dental insurance for individual and percent coverage. I need work done, primarily dental implants. I also need root canals, ten of them. Right now I need one implant.
I've got a quote for this implant of about $2000, $900 for the implant and the rest for the dental crown. Root canals are $600 without coverage. I would like coverage asap. I have previously considered going to a dental school clinic but this route turned out to be very time consuming. So I want to go the private dentist office route. Dental implant will need to "sit in" for six months before I put on the crown. I really wanted to get to the dentist now to prevent further decay of teeth needing root canals.
J. N., Philadelphia, PA
A.: Dear J. N., In your situation you need the best dental discount plan you can get. A plan with highest percentage savings, no waiting periods, if possible no deductibles, and no exclusions on restorative work such as root canals or implants. There are several reasons why this will be the best solution for you. First, you want to get the implant work started asap and you want your root canals soon. Second, you have a lot of work to be done, well over typical dental insurance for individual carries annual maximums of $1000 to $3000. I will give you a list of dental discount plans for individuals. Make sure savings on root canals and implants are satisfactory, make sure you have a selection of dentists and specialists within the driving distance from your zip code, and sign up for one of the plans. There will be no waiting periods and you can start scheduling your appointment with a participating dentist as soon as tomorrow.
--Dental Cool
Resources
Dental Plans with no waiting periods no exclusions on services and no annual limits
I've got a quote for this implant of about $2000, $900 for the implant and the rest for the dental crown. Root canals are $600 without coverage. I would like coverage asap. I have previously considered going to a dental school clinic but this route turned out to be very time consuming. So I want to go the private dentist office route. Dental implant will need to "sit in" for six months before I put on the crown. I really wanted to get to the dentist now to prevent further decay of teeth needing root canals.
J. N., Philadelphia, PA
A.: Dear J. N., In your situation you need the best dental discount plan you can get. A plan with highest percentage savings, no waiting periods, if possible no deductibles, and no exclusions on restorative work such as root canals or implants. There are several reasons why this will be the best solution for you. First, you want to get the implant work started asap and you want your root canals soon. Second, you have a lot of work to be done, well over typical dental insurance for individual carries annual maximums of $1000 to $3000. I will give you a list of dental discount plans for individuals. Make sure savings on root canals and implants are satisfactory, make sure you have a selection of dentists and specialists within the driving distance from your zip code, and sign up for one of the plans. There will be no waiting periods and you can start scheduling your appointment with a participating dentist as soon as tomorrow.
--Dental Cool
Resources
Dental Plans with no waiting periods no exclusions on services and no annual limits
Friday, October 23
Surprise! Crown Work Quote $3500. How To Find an Affordable Dental Plan for Crown Work
Q: Hello Dental Cool, I am currently looking for an affordable dental plan. I need some extensive dental work done. I need some crown work on my two front teeth, and of course teeth cleanings and X-rays. The total quote on these services with my dentist was $3,500. I have been looking for a dental plan on the internet and found some. The information I found is overwhelming and confusing and the upfront premium payments are high. Can you suggest a good plan? I am not in any pain but my teeth are quite sensitive and I would like to see a dentist as soon as possible.
S. S., Riverside, CA
A: Dear S. S., you are making some great points there. The information one finds on the internet is indeed quite confusing. The biggest two issues with you are that you want to see a dentist soon and you have what most plans would consider a pre-existing condition.
Most insurance plans would impose long waiting periods for major dental work such as the crowns and would therefore not be helpful to you at this time. However, there are dental plans that can help you reduce your cost on preventative services and crown work immediately, as much as 50-80%. The downside of plans that have no waiting periods is that you will want to visit a dentist on their private network to receive the maximum benefit. Your dentist might not be on the plan. But then again, what do you like about the dentist that is charging you $3,500 for a couple of crowns?
Be sure to shop around and find a dentist that you really like and feel comfortable with.
Here is my recommendation for you: a plan that will save you up to 80% immediately. The plan is very popular in California and you will have plenty of great dentists to choose from. Please write back with the story about your experience.
--DentalCool
Recommended Plan
Dental Plan: Save up to 80% Immediately on All Dental Services
S. S., Riverside, CA
A: Dear S. S., you are making some great points there. The information one finds on the internet is indeed quite confusing. The biggest two issues with you are that you want to see a dentist soon and you have what most plans would consider a pre-existing condition.
Most insurance plans would impose long waiting periods for major dental work such as the crowns and would therefore not be helpful to you at this time. However, there are dental plans that can help you reduce your cost on preventative services and crown work immediately, as much as 50-80%. The downside of plans that have no waiting periods is that you will want to visit a dentist on their private network to receive the maximum benefit. Your dentist might not be on the plan. But then again, what do you like about the dentist that is charging you $3,500 for a couple of crowns?
Be sure to shop around and find a dentist that you really like and feel comfortable with.
Here is my recommendation for you: a plan that will save you up to 80% immediately. The plan is very popular in California and you will have plenty of great dentists to choose from. Please write back with the story about your experience.
--DentalCool
Recommended Plan
Dental Plan: Save up to 80% Immediately on All Dental Services
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