How to Save Money with a Discount Dental Plan

The #1 attraction of "dental insurance" is that (in most cases) you may use any dentist for covered services. However, individual dental insurance contains deductibles and waiting periods, which limit the amount of your insurance reimbursement in the first year. You are also responsible for "co-insurance" (a portion of the cost) on "basic" and "major" dental procedures.

Virtually all dental insurance plans contain an annual limit on coverage. In addition, your potential insurance reimbursement is subject to a "Maximum Allowable Charge" (MAC) for each procedure.

In short, don't count on "coming out ahead" with dental insurance. It would be rare to obtain more dollars in insurance benefits than you pay in premiums.

The attraction of a "discount dental plan" is that they are low cost, easy to use, and there are no waiting periods for benefits. You save immediately.

You must use a plan "network" dentist for discounted services. Therefore, your key to value is a suitable selection of network dentists near you.

Key Concept: For individuals and families, true dental insurance is rarely cost effect. If you do not have group dental insurance through your employer, then your best option for saving money might be through a discount dental plan.

Here are 5 features you should check-out in a discount dental plan.

1. First and foremost - check the plan's network of participating dentists.

In order to save money with a discount dental plan, you must utilize a participating network dentist, so make sure there are dentists available in your area. If you find one or more suitable dentists in your area, it's a good idea to call the dental office to confirm their participation in the program. The availability of network dentists in your area is the key.

2. Are discounts available on all dental services, or just a few?

A good plan will have published discounts on about 100 of the most common dental procedures and a minimum discount on nearly all other procedures.

3. You'll pay more for a Multi-Level Marketing Plan.

Some dental plans are sold through multi-level marketing (MLM) programs. These plans are higher in cost because many levels need to be paid. Unless you want to sell the product yourself, why pay more for a multi-level marketed dental plan?

4. Don't pay for program features you don't want or need?

Many plans are packaged with additional discount programs, such as chiropractic or prescription drug discounts, and are sold at a much higher price. The value of some of these added programs is questionable. For example, RX discount cards are now available for free on the Internet or through major drugstore chains.

5. Discount Dental Plans come and go, so look for an experienced plan.

A few discount dental plans are offered by some of America's largest companies as an employee benefit. These plans typically have larger dental networks, responsive customer service, and have been in business for many years.

CAREINGTON is one of America's oldest (since 1979) and largest (over 8,000,000 members strong) discount dental plans. CAREINGTON dental plan is sold by agents throughout the USA.

Starting at $6.95/month for an individual, it is also one of the lowest-cost dental plans available. Here are some websites offering the CAREINGTON in your region.

(*Links below open in a new Window.)

Florida - Central Florida - http://jka.cidental.com

Florida - South Florida - http://flquote.cidental.com

Georgia - http://www.alowcostdentalplan.com/states/501/501Georgia.htm

Northeast USA: PA, DE, NJ, NY - http://insurancepa.cidental.com

New York - www.ny-dental-plan.com

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How to Save Money with a Discount Dental Plan