First of all, if cost is your biggest concern, it’s time to reconsider dental insurance and start thinking about a dental plan.  There are some seriously good deals with discount dental plans versus paying for dental insurance premiums.

If you want me to spare you reading this full post and you want to start comparing discount dental plans right now, click here to compare discount dental plans (Save 10% off any plan with coupon code JGD10).

The cost savings you can enjoy with a discount dental plan for individuals versus dental insurance for individuals can be pretty good.

Too much choice – where to start?

I know when I started looking for dental coverage, my head was spinning with all the options.  I would click from site to site to site.  I tried taking notes, but the variables and cost structures and coverages were not comparing apples to apples.  It was impossible for me to actually shop for dental coverage in a systematic way.

Do you know what I mean?  I’ll use an example.  When you shop for a computer, for example, you can compare the specifications very easily – the monitor size, the resolution, the ram, the hard-drive size and so on.  It’s not so easy when you shop for dental coverage – whether dental insurance for individuals or dental plans.

A dental coverage shopping solution

One good (not perfect), solution is a website that actually includes a large variety of dental plan options that you can compare directly in the site.  Better yet, a website that lets you compare the plan options for your geographic location.  This type of website would save you time and significantly narrow down your choices.  Choice is good, too much choice is paralyzing.

One website that does just this by presenting discount dental plan options specifically to your location is DentalPlans.com (Save 10% off any plan with coupon code JGD10).  DentalPlans.com presents a wide selection of discount dental plans that is geogpraphic-specific.

Is a dental plan for you?

Ask yourself the following questions:

• Do you want discounted prices for dental work?
• Do you want options to include vision, hearing, and prescription discounts?
• Do you want a dental plan that has no health restrictions?
• Do you want no annual limits to the dental work you get done at discounted rates?
• Do you want no paperwork hassles?
• Do you want quick activation of your plan?
• Do you want the option for cosmetic dental work?
• MOST IMPORTANT:  do you want to save money on the dental plan compared to many dental insurance policies?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then shopping for discount dental plans is for you – at least worth checking out.

What if you already have dental insurance?

Here’s another benefit to getting a discount dental plan.  Let’s say you have dental insurance for individuals or your family – the fact is your dental insurance policy likely has an annual maximum amount of coverage that is not difficult to reach.  When you top up your dental insurance with a discount dental plan, you enjoy the discounted dental costs on your dental work when you start paying out-of-pocket for dental work.

What does you dental insurance for individuals cost you?

Dental insurance for individuals and families is not cheap – you can easily pay more than $225 per year.  Chances are you won’t even get $225 worth of dental work done in a given year.

With a discount dental plan you enjoy direct savings on the cost of dental work ranging from 10 to 60%.  With plan sign-up costs being significantly less than dental insurance policies, your direct dental work savings can quickly pay back the dental plan sign-up costs.

The fact is that discount dental plans give you the flexibility to save money for your dental work.  It’s economical whether you need lots of dental work, or just the routine checkups and cleanings.

My complaint about discount dental plans vs. dental insurance

One complaint with a discount dental plan you will have to pay some money for dental work.  It isn’t 100% coverage.  This is important to understand when opting for dental coverage.  That said, many dental insurance policies require you to pay a deductible which further reduces any real savings to you.  Deductibles are another way that you pay in-part for dental work.

Also, dental insurance is often not 100% coverage anyway.  In addition to a possible deductible, there may be a co-pay – where you pay a percentage of the dental work costs.

Therefore, any dental coverage you go with – whether dental insurance or a dental plan – you’ll likely pay out-of-pocket for dental work you get done.

What should you do?

Armed with this information and other resources in this site, go to DentalPlans.com.  Seriously consider the discount dental plan option for you.   It could save you money and get you the quality dental care you need.

Click Here to Visit the Official DentalPlans.com Website to see how you can save money on your dental work today.  Save 10% off any plan with coupon code JGD10.

If you’re looking for dental insurance for individuals or family, you might just want to re-think your approach and go for a discount dental plan.

Please note that coverage refers to insurance and discounts refers to dental plans.

14 considerations when shopping for dental care cost relief:

1.  The best dental plan / insurance will have a large dentist network in your area:

Obviously in a city you’ll have more choice; however, good dental insurance plans have a large dentist network that offers you choices in your area.

2.  Premium / membership Cost:

Quality dental insurance plans or discount dental plans aren’t necessarily the cheapest.  Look at the terms, coverage (for insurance) or discounts (for dental plans).  In fact, go through this list and find out what dental coverage criteria is most important to you.  When comparing cost, be sure to look at the percentage of coverage, deductibles (avoid if you can), rates of the discounts with dental plans, and the number of routine procedures covered each year.

3.  Coverage / discounts for preventative and reparative dental work:

The best discount dental plans and insurance include provisions for routine dental work such as check-ups, cleanings, and X-rays (preventative work) and reparative work such as root canals, crowns, tooth extractions, cosmetic, etc.

4.  Coverage / discounts no matter where you are in the USA:

If you’re on a trip and you need dental help immediately, the best dental plan or dental insurance will cover you visiting a dentist (in the network) no matter where you are.  Dental plans too should offer the discount pricing to dentists in your membership network throughout the USA.

5.  Coverage / discounts for routine dental procedures:

Some dental insurance policies only cover the unexpected, non-routine dental procedures.

Great dental plans include significant savings (if a plan) or pay a handsome percentage (if insurance) of the routine dental procedures such as checkups, fillings, and X-rays.

6.  No deductible:

Quality dental insurance policies have low or no deductibles for the year (in my view – I don’t like deductibles).  For example, a deductible may require you to pay $100 before the dental plan pays.  What this means is if all you’re getting is a check-up for the year, you won’t bother collecting on your dental plan.  One advantage to a great discount dental plan over insurance is you don’t pay a deductible.  You enjoy the discounted cost for dental work.

7.  No administrative hassles:

Quality dental insurance will pay your dentist its portion rather than you paying the full cost and then submitting receipts and a claim form to the dental insurer for reimbursement.  The convenience of you not having to claim for reimbursement cannot be overstated.  I know because I’ve had both types of plans.

A quality discount dental plan will spare you any paperwork per dentist visit as well.  All you should have to do is present your plan membership card when attending to your dentist.

8.  Orthodontics included:

This will obviously increase your premiums significantly; however, if you have kids, orthodontic coverage is definitely dental coverage you want.  With respect to dental plans – look to see if orthodontics discount pricing is included.  This may be hard to find.  You may not find it and may have to opt for insurance.

9.  Cosmetic dentistry included:

If you think you’ll want teeth whitening or want a policy that will do cosmetic dental work if your mouth is damaged, then look carefully at the policy to see which procedures and in what circumstances cosmetic procedures are covered (and how much in percentage is covered).  Some discount dental plans include cosmetic dental work as well.  If this is a feature you wish to have, look for it expressly included.

10.  No annual limits:

Quality dental insurance policies don’t have an annual cap on coverage.  I value no caps because the point of insurance is peace of mind and strong financial management. If a huge dental bill comes in and you have to pay a big part of it, then what’s the point of that dental plan?  That said, no cap means expensive premiums.  Dental plans, on the other hand, can offer no cap on spending.  You enjoy the discount prices no matter the amount of work you have done.

11.  No pre-approvals for dental procedures needed:

You don’t want dental insurance that requires you get approved for procedures.  This adds to the administrative hassle and puts all the decision-making power with the insurer.  Dental plans don’t require pre-approvals.  The discount is applied to the cost of whatever work you opt for.

12.  Health restrictions:

Maybe now you don’t have health restrictions, but can you be denied renewal if you develop health issues?  Quality dental insurance plans don’t have health restrictions.  Health restrictions is typically not a consideration when applying for dental plans.

13.  No referral to a dental specialist required

Sometimes your dental work requires a specialist.  Quality dental insurance plans don’t require a referral from a regular dentist and/or family doctor to a dental specialist.  With respect to dental plans, you’ll have to look at the plan with respect to specialist discounts.

14.  No background checks:

I would avoid a dental insurance policy that requires a background check.  I’m not big on insurance companies having an authorization on file permitting them to access my private information.  Typically, discount dental plans do not do background checks.

Will you qualify:

When applying for dental insurance, see whether you’ll qualify.  Some plans do background checks (I’d avoid these) and of course have other parameters, such as pre-existing and age restrictions that will get you denied.  I’m not saying to skip every plan you may not qualify, but if you obviously don’t qualify, don’t waste your time.

If the cost, restrictions, or qualification for dental insurance is a concern to you – seriously consider a discount dental plan instead.

Obviously not all the dental plan criteria above will be important to you when you’re looking for the best dental plan.  Choose the criteria that are most important to you and then make your dental plan selection.  Actually, why not apply to a few dental plans if they fit the bill and make your selection after you receive approvals.

Generally speaking, dental insurance pays out a larger portion per visit or work done IF the procedure is covered by the policy.  Discount dental plans give you access to lower-cost dental prices for a wide range of dental work.

Break it down – dental insurance vs dental plans

Structure: A discount dental plan is not insurance.  It’s more of a membership model where your membership gives you discounted prices for dental work.

Committed annual cost: dental insurance premiums are typically more expensive than dental plan membership costs.  When you get dental insurance, you’re committing to paying more money each year.

Coverage: dental insurance will pay more (sometimes all) of the cost of procedures covered.  Discount dental plans are not coverage.  Instead you get a discounted price for the work – usually anywhere from 10 to 60% off the usual price.

Qualifying: It’s typically easier to qualify for a discounted dental plan.  Some dental insurance policies have onerous restrictions – such as health restrictions and may even do background checks.

Paperwork: Some dental insurance policies require you to pay first, then get reimbursed later.  Discount dental plans don’t pay the full cost.  The discount is available immediately so you have no paperwork hassle.

Annual spending limits: Most dental insurance policies have a payout cap per year (and may not rollover unused portions into following years).  Dental plans have no cap – you can get as much work as you wish; you pay your portion and enjoy the set out discount for work done.

Activation speed: Dental insurance applications can take a while to process.  A quality discount dental plan can get you a response and activated (if approved) in 3 business days.

Pre-approvals for dental work: Some dental insurance policies require you get a pre-approval for work done.  Not so with dental plans – if the work is discounted in the plan, you choose when to have it done and enjoy the discount.

Looks like dental plans are the way to go – why get dental insurance?

The one key advantage to dental insurance is if a procedure is covered, a larger portion will be paid (generally) by the insurance.  The situation where insurance is very good to have is for expensive dental work items that are covered in the policy.

However, the overall savings to you may be as  good as with dental plans in the long run.  Why?  Because dental insurance may have deductibles, the committed annual cost is higher, and the procedures you have done may not be covered.  Moreover, you may not get sufficient work done that actually warrants the cost of the insurance premium.

Any other advantage to dental plans?

Generally, with discount dental plans, you have more control over what you spend largely because your committed fixed cost is not as high each year.  You get discounted pricing on the procedures you choose to have.  Even if you require an expensive procedure, if that procedure is included in the dental plan, you enjoy the savings.

Recommended source for dental plans:

DentalPlans.com compare more than 30 discount dental plans.

Click Here to Visit the Official DentalPlans.com Website.

I’m a believer in being insured, but I’m a bigger believer in getting coverage that works for me.  For you this could include dental insurance for individuals … or a discount dental plan.  Most of the time I don’t collect on my premiums.  In other words I’ve paid far more into insurance plans than I’ve collected.  This goes for my dental insurance coverage as well – and that’s where a discount dental plan can be a better options.

Why I like having a dental plan or dental insurance – big picture?

1. Peace of mind:  I place a great deal of value on peace of mind.  I like know that if a huge dental cost comes along, I’m covered.
2. Preventative dental care:  If I didn’t have dental coverage for individuals, I probably wouldn’t get regular cleanings.  I probably wouldn’t bother going to the dentist at all.  How do I know this?  Because there have been times I didn’t have dental insurance for individuals and I didn’t go to the dentist.
3. Financial planning.  In order to have a good financial plan, I like having a consistent budget.  Insurance, including dental insurance for individuals helps me keep my expenses consistent.

These are the three main benefits of dental coverage in general – whether dental insurance or a dental plan.

Consider the cost of common dental services cost?

• Cleaning:  $65 – $75
• X-rays:  $100 – $125
• Filling:  $110 – $130
• Root Canal: $500 – $1,000

The wrong approach to dental coverage

If you’re thinking about getting dental insurance for individuals or for a family or a discounted dental plan, the wrong approach is adding up your dental costs for the past 2 or 3 years and then comparing that cost to the premium or dental plan joining fees.  If the premium or joining fees cost more than your recent dental work costs, then you may opt against getting dental insurance or a dental plan.

When you use this method (i.e. adding up your recent dental work cost) for deciding on insurance coverage there are 3 significant variables that aren’t considered:

1. The value of peace of mind:  We all place a different value on this, but no matter who you are, having dental insurance will provide some level of peace of mind.
2. In the past, did you get all the dental care you should?  Probably not and so the amount you spent in the past while not covered with dental insurance for individuals is not truly reflective of your actual dental costs.
3. The possibility of a large dental expense:  No matter how healthy your teeth in the past, there’s a chance you could have a major dental expense arise.  Unexpected large expenses can wreak havoc on most budgets.

One Caution to Dental Insurance for Individuals and dental plans

The best way to make dental insurance or a discounted dental plan worth the cost is to get quality dental coverage – whether dental insurance or a discount dental plan.  To learn more about what to consider when shopping for quality dental coverage, read 14 Features of Quality Dental Insurance and Dental Plans.

I know insurance premiums and dental plan fees add up if not provided by your employer.  However, a goal I have in financial management is to smooth out my budget as much as possible.  In other words I like to reduce household expense fluctuations as much as I can.  Insurance and/or discount dental plans is one of the best ways for me to establish a consistent budget and significantly reduce large, unexpected expenses.

Accordingly, with the right discount dental plan, you can have peace of mind and improve your personal financial management.