Since the whole principle for buying dental insurance is to obtain coverage for treatments, consider your needs before you decide on a plan.
For example, if you do not need cosmetic treatment cover, there is really no point in paying additional money for it. Most insurance companies offer three levels of coverage – preventive maintenance, restorative treatments and major treatments. Talk to the insurer and understand which treatments are covered under each independent dental insurance plan.
Dentist networks
Most dental plans are network based. This means that you receive maximum benefits if you go to dentists within the network, and you might not receive any benefits if you visit a dentist who is not a part of the network. There is really no point in signing up with a plan that has a small dentist network within your locality. Ask your dentist if he is enrolled in a reputable network and join that plan. You’ll be more comfortable. You might also receive discounts if your dentist recommends you.
Affordability
Finally, it all boils down to costs. If you cannot afford it, there is no point in buying a comprehensive policy. Cost should not be the only criteria for selection. Analyse different options, narrow the list down to the ones that are the most appropriate and decide based on the cost. Check out your out of pocket expenses such as deductibles and premium payment options.
Here, you need to keep a very important consideration in mind. Different dentists divide treatments into different categories. For example, some dentists might consider cavities as a basic treatment while some others might categorize it into the next level of dental care. Your basic dental cover might not cover it. You need to talk to a dentist within the insurance network and be clear about the different coverage options.
Additional coverage
Besides the basic features available in the plan, some policies offer additional coverage. This might include treatments that are cosmetic in nature. Some policies give you the option to choose among different coverage choices. If you are not satisfied with the basic cover, you need to look for a policy that offers good additional coverage instead of choosing major cover. Major coverage policies are more expensive than the ones that offer basic insurance with additional coverage. Compare different companies, request quotes from them and choose the best independent dental insurance plan.
Waiting periods
You really do not want to buy a policy that has a waiting period of months. Select a policy that offers coverage in the soonest possible time.
Keep these considerations in mind when you buy an independent dental insurance plan.
If you’re looking for cheap dental insurance coverage, you can choose from over 30 regional dentist plans by visiting a reputable dental insurance quote comparison site. Enter your zip code in the quote engine at the foot of the page and compare plans instantly. It’s a lot easier than leafing through the Yellow Pages!