Understanding the different forms of dental insurance coverage these days is not easy, but there is an alternative now: dental insurance Colorado. Individuals looking for coverage for themselves or their family are faced with terminology like dental insurance, dental plans, dental health plans, dental discount plans, and more. This can be confusing for the novice consumer.
The first thing to understand is that despite the variety of names, there are only two basic forms of dental coverage: dental insurance Colorado and dental discount plans.
Dental Insurance
Many times dental insurance is the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about dental coverage, and for good reason – twenty years ago insurance was the only option for consumers. Most people got dental insurance through their employer as a basic benefit. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case today. Dental insurance has become very pricey, causing many employers to drop this benefit to save costs. Today seven out of ten Americans are without dental coverage.
Those w
ho don’t have dental insurance through their employer often find that it isn’t cost-effective to purchase an individual policy. Many insurance plans have restrictions such as deductibles, waiting periods, limitations, exclusions, annual spending limits, or non-coverage for pre-existing conditions. Monthly premiums can run anywhere from $25 to $50 a month for individual plans to as much as $100 for family policies. Such rates are simply too high for many people.
Dental Discount Plans – Dental Insurance Colorado Alternative
Luckily, there is an alternative to the high cost of dental insurance. Dental discount plans were introduced within the past few years as an alternative to the cost and restrictions of dental insurance.
How Discount Dental Plans Work
The dental discount plan lets you visit a dentist and receive dental work at a discounted rate. You can join the plan for a low monthly fee and then are presented with a list of dentists that are in that plan’s network. These network dentists have agreed to the plan’s arrangement and they will offer you a certain percentage off of your dental work as long as you pay at the time of the visit.
The dental discount plan gives you a certain percentage off of the normal fee for services rendered at your visit. For example, if you get your teeth cleaned by a dentist in network and your discount plan gives you 50% off on cleanings, you only pay half of what the dentist normally charges. Say that you need a root canal and the dentist normally charges $900. If your discount dental plan gives you 50% off on root canals, you only have to pay $450 instead. This is a big savings.
What’s In It For The Dentists?
Many people look at these discount dental plans and wonder if there are any dentists who will even be in network. After all, aren’t they agreeing to a lower price for their work? The answer is yes, but many dentists like these plans because it saves them time and money in the long run. Remember that with the dental discount plan you are agreeing to pay for your dental services up front – this gives the dentist cash in hand on the day of your appointment. When the dentist works with dental insurance companies, it takes time, effort, and a lot of paperwork to file a dental claim. The dentist has to wait for payment for the work performed, and sometimes an insurance company will even deny the claim. This means the dentist has to then follow up with billing the patient, all of which is a hassle. With a discount dental plan, the dentist likes that he is guaranteed payment up-front.
Shopping For a Plan
Every dental discount plan is different, so it is important to compare the discounts given on each procedure. One thing that you should expect from each discount plan is that there should be no deductibles, no waiting periods, and no exclusions. You will be able to see any dentist listed in network, so if you aren’t happy at one place you can start seeing another dentist with no hassle.
It is easy to see why discount dental plans are quickly becoming a popular choice for those without dental insurance Colorado. The low monthly cost, little to no restrictions, and wide network make them a good alternative to pricey dental insurance and they are an excellent option for those who don’t have any dental coverage at all.
AmeriPlan discount health and dental plans are designed to save you money while providing the health and dental care you and your family needs. Get started now and you’ll be amazed at the level of medical and dental services and the low cost.
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