Let’s look at how much you should pay for dental insurance. I get asked this question quite a bit whenever I’m dealing with any form of insurance. That’s because budget is really important, not just for an individual, but also for a family.
Then, when I’m talking to someone about dental insurance, I need to find out from them what they need the plan to cover. You’ve got preventative care services, you’ve got basic care, and then you’ve got major dental services. Different carriers include different services in these categories. So it’s really important that you talk to a consultant like those at MBhealth to make sure that you’re getting the most out of the plan you select.
Start Here: Find Out About the Plan’s Network
Before making a decision, you need to talk about the network. There are PPO dental plans. There are HMO-style plans that really depend on where you’re located. On the other hand, whether or not you have a current dentist also affects which dental plan you should choose.
No matter what the premium is, a dental plan is only good for you if the dentist you go to is covered. A lot of people do not want to change their dentists. Sometimes they’ll change a primary care physician sooner than they will their dental provider. When you’re looking at providers, you’ve got the United Healthcares of the World or the Delta Dentals of the World.
Next: Look at the Services That Are Covered
Different insurance carriers specialize in different insurance products and may have higher annual maximums that cover more throughout the course of a year. When we talk with customers about their dental insurance, we ask them if they have a lot of dental issues. Do they get a lot of cavities? Do they know if they might have root canals on the horizon, or could they be looking at implants?
Those are great questions to be talking about because that’s going to determine their premium.
If I suggest a plan that covers implants, there’s certainly going to be a higher premium. If a client has children who might need orthodontia, that becomes a benefit they need in their plan. That’s going to change the premium.
Last: Know Your Waiting Periods
The last thing I talk to my clients about is the waiting periods. I hate to wait six months or 12 months to use my plan, but I sure better know which services have waiting periods so that I don’t end up paying a premium and getting nothing for my policy. That’s extremely frustrating.
Coming Off Group Insurance to Individual Insurance?
If you are coming off a group plan, that plays a big factor in the choices we look at for you. Maybe you’re leaving a Delta Dental Plan on your group insurance and you want to stay with Delta Dental on an individual basis. We can help you make your best decision.
The Best Advice Can Get You the Best Dental Insurance
At MBhealth, we’re really careful when we consult with our clients on the best product that’s going to make sense for them. The worst thing that you could do is have a dental plan, need a service, and then not have it covered.
There are a lot of questions that come into play when signing up for this kind of insurance, so you need to talk to someone experienced. Choosing your dental insurance plan alone won’t always get you the best result. When you’re ready to enroll in dental insurance, call us at MBhealth because we know what to ask you. Call us at (314) 544-5400.
