Dental Plans

TexasArtist · #1 12/12/06, 03:30 PM

I've been looking into dental plans and wondering are they worth it and also who do you use if you have one?

Christiaan · #2 12/12/06, 05:14 PM

Our dental plan allows us to pick our dentist, so we can go to the one we've been seeing for the past 30 years. It pays 100% of for exam and cleaning twice a year and 80% of most procedures such as fillings, fluoride treatment and sealants.

ET1 SS · #3 12/12/06, 05:56 PM

We do not have a plan.

We looked into them, but we found that when comparing:

1. one cleaning a year paid out of pocket,

2. their premium.

Their premium was twice the cost.

TexasArtist · #4 12/12/06, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christiaan

Our dental plan allows us to pick our dentist, so we can go to the one we've been seeing for the past 30 years. It pays 100% of for exam and cleaning twice a year and 80% of most procedures such as fillings, fluoride treatment and sealants.

psst could you share who your plan is with so I can check into them

foxtrapper · #5 12/12/06, 07:06 PM

This is probably the last year I'll purchase dental insurance.

This year has had some expensive work in my mouth, almost none of which was covered by the insurance plan, and I'd picked the expensive one (nearly $100 a month for the family) that covered the most.

White fillings, not covered. Amalgam only, and only on the molars.

Root canal, roughly 20% covered.

Extraction, not covered.

Cap, not covered (all metal would be at 40%)

So I'm spending thousands out of my pocket, the insurance company pays nothing, and they collect premiums from me. I don't think this was good spending on my part.

rio002 · #6 12/12/06, 11:00 PM

We have tried a few dental plans, the most recent covered a whole $13 on a $300 bill for dh to have 2 pulled (our premium was $30 a month and we'd had for 6 months--don't do the math it's scary). The best "plan" I have found is controling it myself--I use Care Credit. It's like a credit card, they approve you for so much and nail you interest if you don't pay it off in 3 months--but it's accepted at my doctor, dentist, vision provider and yes even my vet lol some mechanics take it too. So it gives me the security that even if I don't have cash in hand I can still get treated and I don't pay premiums And I can't screw it up by buying "stuff" as it is only good at certain places. The site is just www.carecredit.com, apply and within a few minutes they tell you if you're accepted, for how much and give you a page to print out in case you need a dr. before you get the actual card, they do tell you everywhere it's accepted at and if your dr. doesn't take it, you can put in a request through the website to contact your dr. and see if they would like to start taking it.............it's an option.

MyHomesteadName · #7 12/13/06, 01:03 AM

Insurance is such a crock...

Christiaan · #8 12/13/06, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TexasArtist

psst could you share who your plan is with so I can check into them

We have Washington Dental Plan which is run by Delta Dental. No idea if Delta goes beyond Washington state or not.

virtualco · #9 12/13/06, 06:31 AM

My family has MetLife Dental and my 19 yr old just had four wisdom teeth removed at the same time last week. My cost was a little over $500 with total cost being at $2000.

Kid had braces several years back, our cost around $900, would have been around $3000.

We get two cleanings, fillings, and x-rays at no charge every year. We pay $75 a month for this coverage and it includes eye care. It has been a money saver for my household.

Jenn · #10 12/13/06, 12:09 PM

Have Delta Concordia via the military. It is not really insurance- it is a structured payment plan although probably partly subsidized by the Army. Our premiums would cover a bit more than twice annual cleanings (which we don't always get on schedule so they win) and we end up paying about 1/2 to 1/3 of most any work and all of some things. Maybe with my lousy teeth and orthodontia for 1-2 kids (only get $1500/kid allowance which is 1/3 current cost) we will be slightly ahead. Also writing dentist check for $50 to $400 is more bearable than it would be writing it for $100 to $1200 although each year we've already paid $320.

Jan Doling · #11 12/13/06, 12:48 PM

My employer is a large firm that is self insured. I couldn't afford the kids' braces or fillings as a single mother without the insurance plan.