Posted by Meghan Weaver on Tue, Jul 20, 2010 @ 12:56 PM
#6 You get a liberal definition of “family” for your family plan:
Unlike many traditional dental insurance plans, discount dental plans don’t limit family plan membership to immediate family only. Anyone living in your household can be added as dependents on your plan. This can include a grandparent, aunt, uncle, etc. And, since discount dental plans are not insurance, your family dental plan rate will not go up.
Universal Dental Plan members also enjoy a liberal definition for couple dental plans. View more information on our membership tiers here.
#5 They’re light on paperwork:
Discount dental plans operate according to a fee for service model. This means that there are never any claim forms to fill out, making it a lot easier for you and your dentist as well.
# 4 Cosmetic dentistry is covered:
Just like your health insurance doesn’t cover cosmetic surgery, most dental insurance plans view cosmetic dentistry procedures such as tooth whitening, veneers and dental implants as elective. They maintain that these procedures are not required for good oral health and thus should not be covered.
Discount dental plans make no such restrictions and spread their deep dental discounts across all procedures participating network dentists perform (even cosmetic ones).
# 3 No annual limits
Dental insurance plans also come with annual maximums, typically $1,000 more or less for individual coverage. This $1,000 is the cap on what individuals’ dental insurance will pay out each year in benefits, after that, plan subscribers are on their own.
Because discount dental plans are a dental insurance alternative, they don’t have annual limits. Members enjoy the same deep procedural discounts every time they visit a network dentist (regardless of the number of times they’ve visited the dentist that year or how much work they’ve had done).
# 2 No waiting periods
With discount dental plans, members can access full discounts on all procedures (even major work to treat existing dental conditions) because there are no waiting periods. Traditional dental insurance plans have long waiting periods, typically 12 months for major work such as root canals, crowns and dentures is covered.
But let’s face it, we’re all huge procrastinators and no one really buys a dental plan exactly a year to the day before they need a root canal (and for the few that do more power to them). That’s why waiting periods are such a pain and discount dental plans are designed to help you get the care you need, when you need it at a price that’s affordable for all.
# 1 Affordable membership rates
Traditional dental insurance is most commonly purchased by groups and associations, or by employers as an employee benefit. Group buying power makes premiums more affordable but when dental insurance is purchased on an individual basis, it can get pretty expensive. Typical monthly premiums range from $40-50 for an individual (over $100 for families).
Discount dental plans cost less than $10 per-month for individuals and less than $20 per-month for families. With this rate, members obtain access to deep discounts (10-60% depending on the plan) on all procedures performed by any of the plan’s network dentists.
Posted by Meghan Weaver on Thu, Jul 08, 2010 @ 09:49 AM
Braces are a huge investment and can help you achieve lifetime of healthy, beautiful smiles. So, it certainly makes sense that you find a trusted and experienced orthodontist for your child’s (or even your) orthodontic treatment. It’s also vital to have a dental plan that makes treatment more affordable every step of the way. After reviewing several traditional dental insurance plans with orthodontia riders, it’s plain to see that you pay far more than what you get. That is, if you’re the one paying the premiums.
If you work for a company that pays 100% of your family dental plan premiums with an orthodontia rider, by all means stick with your current plan. After all, depending on your annual lifetime maximum you’re getting $1,000-$1,500 of your child’s braces on the insurance company’s dime. That’s a pretty sweet deal if you ask me, but unfortunately most people aren’t in this boat.
Perhaps your company’s dental insurance plan doesn’t cover orthodontia and you’re left paying for braces out-of-pocket. Or maybe your employer doesn’t offer dental and you need to by a dental plan on your own to cover your child’s upcoming orthodontic treatment (or yours). If either of these sounds like you then read on.
Orthodontia coverage on traditional dental insurance plans:
As many of us know, dental insurance plans require subscribers to pay monthly premiums (roughly $50-60 for individuals and $100+ for families) and receive benefits based on the concept of cost-sharing. With cost-sharing, the insurance company will pay a certain percent the cost of each covered procedure based on a usual and customary rate (subscriber pays the rest).
The percentage paid depends on the category of procedure; preventative, basic restorative (i.e. filling a cavity) and major restorative (i.e. bridges, crowns, full or partial dentures, etc.). Our 7 step guide to buying a dental plan tells you much more about insurance cost-sharing.
Orthodontia falls under a 4th procedural category, corrective work. For the added cost of $6-7 per-month in premium, insurance companies will pay 50% the cost of corrective procedures up to a set dollar amount called the lifetime max ($1,500 is not an uncommon value for this). Typical insurance plan waiting periods for corrective services are 1-2 years.
Below is what a typical family dental insurance plan subscriber would pay over the course of an orthodontic treatment (and what they’d get in benefits).
|
Procedure/Expense
|
Total Cost*
|
Insurer Pays
|
Subscriber Pays
|
|
Premiums paid during 24 month orthodontic treatment
|
$3,600 ($150 monthly family plan premium w/orthodontia rider x 24 mos.)
|
$0
|
$3,600
|
|
Orthodontic records, treatment plan and consultation
|
$295
|
$147.50
|
$147.50
|
|
Initial orthodontic appliance installation
|
$670
|
$335
|
$335
|
|
Active malment phase (up to 24 months)
|
$3,875
|
$1,017.50
|
$2,857.50
|
|
Retention Phase (including retainer)
|
$385
|
$0
|
$385
|
|
TOTAL
|
|
$1,500
|
$7,325
|
*Based on typical monthly premium for family plan with orthodontia rider and average procedural costs for 2009 in Massachusetts
Add in the $1,800 in premium the subscriber paid while fulfilling the waiting period and they’re paying a total of $9,125 for just $1,500 in benefit.
Orthodontia with a discount dental plan:
When dental insurance doesn’t make sense for orthodontia coverage, discount dental plans could provide considerable savings without all the limits, waiting periods and high monthly premiums.
Here’s what a Massachusetts family would pay on Universal Dental Plan (a discount dental savings program) during the course of an orthodontic treatment.
|
Procedure/Expense
|
Total Cost*
|
Member Pays
|
Member Saves
|
|
Membership fees paid during 24 month orthodontic treatment
|
$350
|
$350
|
N/A
|
|
Orthodontic records, treatment plan and consultation
|
$295
|
$220
|
$75
|
|
Initial orthodontic appliance installation
|
$670
|
$525
|
$145
|
|
Active malment phase (up to 24 months)
|
$3,875
|
$3,285
|
$590
|
|
Retention Phase (including retainer)
|
$385
|
$320
|
$65
|
|
TOTAL
|
$5,575
|
$4,700
|
$875
|
*Based on average procedural costs for 2009 in Massachusetts
Discount dental plan members have no waiting periods to fulfill which means access to all discounts begins the day they enroll. So, if you live in Massachusetts, you’re looking to save money braces, you don’t have dental insurance coverage for orthodontia and you’d much rather pay $4,700 than $9,000+ (and I’m sure that’s just about everyone), visit our website and enroll today.
Posted by Meghan Weaver on Fri, Jul 02, 2010 @ 11:10 AM
Traditional dental insurance is predominately bought on a group basis through employers, associations, etc. Most plans have deductibles, annual procedural limits and require tedious claim forms (a major pain for both the insured and his or her dentist). Also, some plans have long waiting periods for major services and limitations on certain procedures (i.e. cosmetic procedures such as teeth whitening and veneers).
Discount dental plans are designed to provide major savings on members’ dental care needs. Since discount dental plans are not insurance, there are no limitations on cosmetic procedures, no claim forms, no waiting periods, no deductibles, no annual limits and memberships are activated immediately.
Traditional dental insurance is also largely unavailable to seniors once they’ve retired (typically at age 65) and no longer have access to dental benefits they had while employed. Many of these individuals are living well into their 80’s and therefore must endure 15-20 years of costly dentistry on fixed incomes. Discount dental plans are a wonderful way for seniors to save money on their dental care.
Discount dental plans are available directly to individuals, couples, families and seniors. Businesses and associations can also purchase discount dental plans on a group basis and provide them as an employee benefits. They’re an easy, affordable and flexible way for businesses to save money on valuable dental care for their employees.
Unlike many dental insurance plans, discount dental plans do not have a minimum participation policy and do not require employer contribution.
Universal Dental Plan is a discount dental plan and smart insurance alternative providing individuals, families, seniors and groups 20-50% discounts on all dental procedures via our robust network of Massachusetts dentists and specialists—all for an affordable monthly or annual membership rate.
If you’re a Massachusetts resident looking for a cost-effective solution to save on dentistry, visit our website at www.universaldentalplan.com to learn more and enroll today.