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StillLivin posted 1/15/2014 10:59 AM

Does anybody have advice on good, but inexpensive dental insurance.
Once all paperwork is final, I will need to get my own dental insurance and don't even know what is out there (was on military dental for over 20 years).
Thanks in advance.

MovingUpward posted 1/15/2014 11:15 AM

Do you have a dentist already? If so start with what plans they accept and work from there.

Undefinabl3 posted 1/15/2014 11:27 AM

Do you have a dentist already? If so start with what plans they accept and work from there.

probably the best way to go.

Then i would contact that insurance company and find out what their minimal coverage for procedures.

We found out the hard way that the dentist will charge what they charge, and you are on the hook for the rest (like a cleaning, ins. will only pay 58 dollars for it, but the dentist charged almost 70 dollars)

So, we are in the process of finding a dentist that doesnt charge quiet so much. With 4 people needing cleanings, cavities, and other work, it adds up way to fast.

TheHardWay posted 1/15/2014 11:45 AM

If you have dental insurance and are using a network dentist, they should not charge you for the amount over what the insurance carrier allows. If you go to a dentist on your carriers provider list and they charge 100 for a cleaning - but the carrier allows 50 - then they should accept that 50 as payment in full (if you have 100% coverage for cleanings).

You might also check into a dental discount policy - not actual insurance - but super affordable and with some, the out of pocket is about the same as if you were paying after an insurance policy did. It all depends on what you anticipate you need it for.

StillLivin posted 1/15/2014 11:49 AM

I have dental insurance, but once the D is final, he will drop me from it.
His dental insurance is too expensive for me (on a budget now, going back to school full time).
I've never been on anything else but what the military has provided for us.
I'll check with the dentists office and see what they recommend.
Thanks.

Crescita posted 1/15/2014 11:54 AM

I just signed up for an Assurant Health dental plan. It's $232 a year, any dentist. It covers $200/year preventive care(cleanings and x-rays). There are additional benefits for basic care (fillings and extractions) and major services (crowns, inlays, any number of terrifying expensive services) up to $1500/year. So on a good dental year I will come out $32 behind, and a bad year I will come out a little ahead.

Last year I paid $891 out of pocket with no insurance or plan for 2 cleanings, 1 x-ray and 2 fillings. If that happens again I'll pay $787. So not huge savings

Most people think dental insurance isn't worth it, but I figure if it forces me to go to the dentist 2x per year to almost break even it will save me on more expensive dental care in the long run.

whatdoto posted 1/16/2014 07:22 AM

I got dental and vision insurance for DS and I thru Humana. $30 per month for each. I also purchased my own health ins. thru Aetna. ehealthinsurance dot com. You can look thru the plans Dr. list and see if your Dr. is there. All of my local Dr's are on their lists.

Hope that helps.

peacelovetea posted 1/16/2014 09:49 AM

I've gone to the same dentist for years (and provided them with 3 new patients via my children ) so I went to them first to see what we could work out. They offer an arrangement that meant I could cover my preventative care and give me some emergency work if I needed it for about what I would pay for the preventative work alone. I too make sure I go for my cleanings because I know I have some problems that could brew if I don't go and I don't have the time or money to deal with bigger issues!

I am fine with going without dental insurance, given that my insurance had such a low maximum that any major work would have cost me a pretty penny anyway that it wasn't worth paying for.

StillLivin posted 1/16/2014 13:32 PM

Thanks all. I'm good with health insurance, retired vet and Tricare is pretty good (+disability). It was just the dental insurance through the retired military program was just too much. I will check out the ones mentioned here plus a few I found online.
Good news is, once I find good, affordable dental insurance, I can finally cut all ties and be free and independent in every sense of the word!