As a money-savvy individual, you may constantly be looking for ways to reduce spending on important services, including oral healthcare. To that end, you might be thinking about purchasing a dental insurance policy or a dental discount plan. But which option is better? Both have their pros and cons. This blog post provides a generalized comparison of both arrangements to help steer you in the right direction.
Dental Insurance
Many patients choose a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) dental plan. Most PPO plans offer the following perks and benefits:
- You can receive preventive care, including exams, X-rays, and cleanings, for nothing out of pocket.
- You may need to pay for as little as 20 – 50% of the cost of restorative care, including services like fillings, crowns, and some types of oral surgery.
- You can use your policy at any practice, regardless of whether they are in your insurance network.
Dental insurance plans also usually come with a few downsides:
- There is an annual maximum (a limit on how much your insurer will pay out for approved services within a calendar year).
- There may be a waiting period of 6 – 12 months before you are eligible to receive coverage for some restorative services.
- Cosmetic services, orthodontia, and some advanced procedures may not be covered.
Dental Discount Plans
In exchange for a reasonable fee, a dental discount plan allows you to enjoy reduced pricing on a wide variety of services. Some of the advantages that they often offer include:
- You can receive necessary preventive care at no additional cost.
- There are no waiting periods or annual maximums.
- Almost all services are included, even those that are not usually covered by traditional insurance. For example, you could get a discount on teeth whitening, veneers, or other cosmetic procedures.
- In many cases, a discount plan costs less than traditional insurance.
A few potential downsides of dental discount plans include:
- You can only use your benefits at certain practices. (Some discount plans are loyalty programs that are limited to a single practice.)
- You are likely to pay more out of pocket for restorative services than you would with traditional insurance.
Which Should You Choose?
There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to choosing between dental insurance and a dental discount plan. Carefully examine the details of any options that are open to you so you can choose the one that best fits your budget and needs.
Meet the Practice
At Comprehensive Dental Associates of Central Connecticut, we provide a broad range of general oral health services. We accept more than 200 different dental insurance plans, and we offer the Essential Dental discount plan. If you are curious about how you can save money on the top-quality care offered by our team, contact our East Hartford office at 860-288-5786.