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Choosing Dental Insurance or a Dental Discount Plan is a Personal Choice

Dental Discount Plans vs. Dental Insurance

While dental insurance and dental discounts essentially have the same purpose – saving money on your dental care – each does so in a different manner. Dental insurance will pay for part or all of the work done on a patient, whereas a dental discount plan will require the patient to pay but with a pre-negotiated discount. Which you choose will depend upon your particular situation and needs.

Cost

Dental insurance, as you might expect, will typically be quite a bit more costly than dental discount plans. Though you can purchase dental insurance individually, most receive the benefits of such through an employer. Discount plans are more affordable at under a $100 a year for individuals and generally a bit more for an entire family.

Dental insurance makes dental work more affordable for each visit, but is more expensive in the premiums you will pay. If you only routinely go to the dentist for cleanings and exams, rarely requiring more extensive care, a dental discount plan may be more cost effective for you in the long run. It is important to weigh the overall cost of dental care – including premium costs – when deciding which option is best for you as an individual.

Remember, too, to choose a dental discount plan (if this is the choice you make) with care. Many unscrupulous companies offer these plans according to MSN Money; they recommend checking with the National Association of Dental Plans to see whether or not a particular company is licensed in your state. Asking for a written plan description prior to purchase and looking up the company on the Better Business Bureau website are also things you should consider when choosing a dental discount plan.