School me on dental insurance

[Aaron]

Hey all, I am in need of getting some dental insurance. I am trying to find the best/most cost effective means of insurance. I used to have it when I worked for a bigger corporation, but not anymore. From just looking up some on google, it looks like there are a couple different types. But what I am finding are that most are just a discount card. Is this true with most? TIA!

[husker267]

Aaron - I went through this recently myself. I spoke with a bunch of assorted insurance agents and they pointed me to the discount cards you've already found. Any small business dental insurance usually requires a minimum of three to five participants. Luckly my wife's company just started to offer dental. If you're self-employed, you could always try to barter services with a dentist.

[sonofmayhem]

Just make sure you don't wake up with your pants down and anus sore.

[starbreaker666]

Just make sure you don't wake up with your pants down and anus sore.


Well isn't how they take you tempr....hey..what are you saying?:confused::(

[sonofmayhem]

nah thats a prostate exam right?

[oleblue]

From my searching around, bout 8 years ago now, found that for individuals you can only get the discounted card plans.

Most insurance is not that good anyway. What I have now, so called top of the line, pays 100 percent of cleanings, pays 90 percent of most other work with a 1700 max per year.

Well 2 cleanings a year at 200 each is added into the 1700 max for the year. You need any work done and you max out after one visit. So if you want more work done that year, you have to pay full price. Ouch, the discount cards do not max out for the year from what I know, but that may not be true. If true, then they could be a better deal anyway.

[Malamute]

I'd be careful with the discount card plans. Most of the places that take them are the "chains" in dentistry. Not too many solo offices out there that take them.

Unless you work for a company that offers it you will have a hard time finding anything very good. There just aren't many options for the self employed. My advise is brush, floss and be as good with prevention as possible. Oh yeah, cut out the soda too!

pm me if you want any more info.

[_CJ]

I'm self employed and have been through the dental insurance dance too. The conclusion I've come to is that it's cheapest to be uninsured. If you're like most people you aren't going to need crowns and root canals every year, so the ~$30/mo that insurance costs will add up to more than if you pay out of pocket in an average five year span.

I do have a dental coverage deal on my medical insurance (Tonik by Blue Cross), but it only covers cleaning and x-rays twice a year. It's pretty much useless and there's no way for me to take it off the health plan, so I use it.

Keep an eye out for coupons in the mail from dentists. I've used them, and I've been happy with the work done. Funny how they find less work that has to be done when they know there isn't an insurance company with deep pockets paying the bill. I used to get really upset with dentists telling me we had $XXX left on this year's insurance that we could spend. Never mind if I actually needed the work, right?

Some dentists also have "in house" insurance that might be worth looking into.

Best advise? Brush, floss and rinse twice a day. :D