You have been satisfied with your dental health. Then, abruptly, you develop a painful toothache. It hurts to sip a glass of water, and you struggle to concentrate because of the nagging pain. You realize it will not go away on its own. You need a dentist, but you question the cost.
Your cost will vary depending on whether you have dental insurance and what treatment your plan covers. Some dental insurance plans cover just preventive care, while others might cover treatments like crowns and oral surgery.
You question whether you really need dental insurance. Sure, you can get by without it, but this approach also comes with risk. It is quite often worth it to carry dental insurance. Depending on your personal needs, you might not need a plan with comprehensive coverage. You certainly should not ignore matters with your mouth, teeth, and gums. Oral health concerns will only get worse without treatment and will then lead to more costly medical issues.
What You Should Know About Dental Insurance
Some forms of insurance, like car insurance, are there if something unplanned happens. Dental insurance is also designed to be proactive or preventative, obstructing the worst from happening.
This is how dental insurance usually works. You pay a monthly fee, called a premium, and your plan then covers a share of the cost of your dental care for the year. Plans vary based on the insurance carrier and the specific plan options. Dental insurance most often covers all preventive care, such as checkups, screenings, and cleanings. Other elective services might have various levels of coverage.
Here are Insurance Terms You Should Know
- Premium- Your monthly fee to be enrolled in a dental insurance plan.
- Deductible- The amount you need to pay for dental care before your annual benefits begin. For many dental plans, this is often only between $25-$75. Preventive care is covered before you reach your deductible.
- Coinsurance- The percentage of a treatment cost you pay after meeting your deductible. Your coinsurance for a root canal might be 20% or 50% of the cost.
- The Annual Maximum- The most your dental plan covers in a single year. After this point, you are then responsible for 100% of your dental expenses.
How Dental Insurance Pays for Itself
If you continue with your twice-a-year preventive care appointments, your dental insurance literally pays for itself. If you need additional dental care, you will also see the benefits and value of having a plan.
As an example, let us start with a monthly premium. If you pay $40 a month, that equals $480 per year.
With those premiums, you should get two checkups covered at 100%. Without dental insurance, these two appointments alone will cost between $400 and $500 out of pocket. The added value of dental insurance does not stop there because most plans will cover a share of the cost of other dental procedures.
Dental insurance can certainly prevent additional dental care. Regular preventive checkups help keep your teeth and gums healthy, reducing the risk of developing serious issues that become expensive to treat. Your oral health can be an indicator of your overall health, so your dentist could be the first to identify other health conditions.
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