Dental insurance can be a wise investment. It can save you hundreds and even thousands of dollars on care for your teeth. Various insurances differ greatly, however, but there generally isn’t one that will be the best for everyone because everyone has different needs. The following are some factors you will want to consider when choosing dental insurance.
What is the premium?
Obviously, this will be important. How much is the premium or the monthly (or otherwise regularly) upfront price you pay for having the insurance. Obviously, the less it is the better. In general this is not too expensive, but it can range. In general the better plans are more expensive, but this is not always so. You should shop around for different companies to get an idea of the prices they are offering.
What is the deductible?
The deductible is the amount of money you will pay before the insurance starts paying. This can range greatly. Obviously, the less of a deductible, the better. Many plans offer many services without a deductible. Sometimes an insurer will offer different plans, charging a higher premium for the plans with a lower deductible. If you think you will use it a lot then it might be more important for you to have a lower deductible. If, on the other hand, you think you will hardly use it and only have it for emergencies, a higher deductible may be okay. A lot of times insurers will have different deductibles based on what dental service you are getting done.
What are the limits?
There are different limits that the insurance might have. Some might have a maximum amount they will pay in any calendar year. Others might have a limit on how much they will pay for a person. Some will have limits on certain procedures. You will want to find out what these limits are.
How does the insurance pay?
You should find out how the plan works. Does it cost you X amount of dollars for particular services? Do they pay a percentage and you pay a percentage? Do they completely cover some procedures? Make sure you understand exactly what they will be paying.
Which dentists can you see?
A lot of dental insurance plans limit you on the dentists you can see and still get benefits. They may have networks. Some have networks but then also have out-of-network benefits. Find out exactly what they offer, and you might want to consider whether your current dentist is on their network.
What exclusions, pre-existing conditions, etc are on it?
Some plans might exclude certain procedures or not provide if you have a pre-existing condition. Though it might be long and tedious, read all of the fine print.