Individual dental insurance is available for people not offered dental coverage as part of their employer’s plan. These plans usually renew annually and have specific limits that apply.
Some examples of these limits are copays, annual maximums, and deductibles. Generally, staying within the provider network for the most cost savings is best.
Coverage for Preventive Care
Whether your dental insurance is offered through work or bought on the individual market, it often brings expensive teeth to care within reach. And that’s important because studies show that getting regular preventive dental care, like teeth cleanings or fluoride treatments, can help lower the risk of significant problems down the road, such as cavities and gum disease.
There are many different dental plans on the individual market, including those available through the Affordable Care Act marketplace health insurance and standalone dental plans. It’s important to carefully review the details of any plan you consider, including monthly premiums, deductibles, copayments, and coverage maximums.
Most dental individual insurance plans also have time limits on services, such as teeth cleanings every six months and X-rays a limited number of times yearly. This helps keep costs down for patients and providers alike. It’s also a good idea to ask your dentist what the recommended schedule is for preventive visits.
Reduced Out-of-Pocket Expenses
Individual dental insurance plans are a great way to get preventive care and treatment for minor issues before they become significant problems. And although the monthly premiums aren’t cheap, most adults find that the savings they get from coverage are well worth the plan’s cost.
To save money on routine care and treatment costs, look for a dental Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) or Dental Health Maintenance Organization (DHMO) plan offering an extensive dentist network. Many dentists who accept these plans offer reduced fees, which helps lower your out-of-pocket expenses.
Remember that some dental insurance plans limit how much they’ll pay in a year for some significant procedures. It’s important to understand these limitations and how they apply to you so that you can make the best decision for your needs. Fortunately, Cigna Healthcare provides a comprehensive online resource to help you shop for the right individual dental plan for you and your family. Visit the website to learn more about your options and begin saving today.
Convenience
Dental insurance plans often come with a wide range of benefits, such as coverage for preventive visits, reduced out-of-pocket expenses, and annual maximums that help pay for major procedures. However, when considering a dental plan to purchase in the individual market or through your employer, it’s essential to carefully consider factors like deductibles, copayments, and benefit caps.
For example, dental Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans usually offer an extensive network of dentists for policyholders to choose from and only require that you visit a network dentist for most services. But if you prefer a smaller network of providers, a Dental Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) or discount plan better fits your needs.
Many value purchasing separate dental coverage from their health plan, as it can save money on the premium. Whether you’re looking to buy a health plan through the ACA marketplace/exchange or an independent dental insurance plan, eHealth’s team of licensed experts is here to help you navigate your options.
Flexibility
The flexibility of individual dental coverage allows you to choose a plan that best fits your budget and oral care needs. Individual plans also offer lower premiums than many employer-sponsored group health insurance plans.
When choosing a plan, it’s important to understand terminology like deductibles, copays, and annual maximums. A deductible is the amount you pay toward the cost of covered services each year before your plan begins to pay (typically, preventive care is covered without a deductible). Copayments are fixed dollar amounts you pay for services after you meet a plan’s deductible, and a coinsurance payment is a percentage of a service’s cost that your dental insurance pays once you reach a plan’s annual maximum.
Other standard terms include a table or schedule of allowance programs, which determine a list of covered services and an assigned dollar amount for each. Dentists within a network may charge less than this fee, so enrollees benefit from value-based pricing. Other plans use capitation programs, which pay contracted dentists a flat monthly amount per enrolled family or patient.
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