What You Need To Know About Discount Dental Plans

By Nelda Powers


Discount dental plans allow members to get discounts after using the services of a dentist. Plan participants get to choose the dentist to visit from a list of participating dentists. These plans are different from dental insurance in that members do not pay monthly premiums. They only pay a single yearly fee and they can visit any dentist listed in a plan to enjoy discounts.

Participating dentists benefit by having their listing displayed regularly to a large list of potential patients. They therefore agree to charge lower service fees. The discounts in these plans vary. Typically, you will be reimbursed based on the class of services you use. For instance, diagnostic and preventative services may be covered at a hundred percent of the cost of the procedure, while basic restorative services may be covered at eighty percent of the procedure.

Under most dental programs, patients may receive certain services such as yearly teeth cleaning and yearly checkups free or at very low costs. The main benefit of these plans to patients is that they enable them to use the services of dentists even when they do not have enough money. These programs do not pay for the services a patient receives but rather allows him or her to pay discounted rates for such services.

Most dental discount programs require service providers to list their fees. This lets you know how much each listed dentist charges. Another advantage of singing up for such programs is that you may include any family member you want. This can benefit people who are not your immediate family members.

In general, discount plans have specific defined charges for members such as copayments, deductibles and coinsurance. These expenses help ensure that annual fees remain affordable. There may be limitations of the number of times you can receive a specific service. Your age may also determine which services you may receive at discounted rates.

Dental programs also have a dollar limit that they pay for in a year. After the annual maximum is reached, these programs do not provide coverage for additional services, until the beginning of the next plan year. You will probably not reach your yearly maximum if you only utilize routine care services like cleanings, X rays, and exams.

It is important that you get a quotation from your dentist in order to know exactly how much money the procedures you need to undergo will cost. You can ask your service provider to submit the treatment plan to your insurer so that you can know how much money the plan will help you save. Your dentist may also submit supporting documents so that his or her service can be pre approved.

Your insurer can provide you with information about the reduced rates the plan allows you to enjoy, how much you will pay for services, how much money remains towards your deductible and if you are close to reaching your yearly dollar limit. When comparing discount dental plans, you should select one that lists the dentist you would like to visit and provides coverage for the services you need. The providers of these plans usually outline the services covered, requirements, limitations and exclusions in a detailed manner.




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