Full Coverage Dental Insurance: Get What You Truly Deserve
According to a news article from RedOrbit.com, an estimated 45 million Americans do not have dental insurance and albeit the recently passed healthcare reform bill, provision for dental health care remains a grey area.
Of the total population of 172 million American adults under the age of 65, only 75% has dental plans integrated with their private health insurance plans, most of which are part of employment health benefits. Likewise, among those with health care coverage, only 33% have a full coverage dental plan. The other 66% subscribes to low cost dental plans such as Medicaid that serves low income brackets and cater to those under 21. Yet the major setback is that beneficiaries of this card find it very hard to find dental practitioners who accept such low priced dental schemes.
Does it really pay to have a dental plan that does not serve its purpose? Why pay for something that cannot save you from long claims processing and lack of professional accreditation among dentists? On the other hand, if dental health care can be part of a comprehensive health insurance, then do we still need to get a stand-alone dental coverage, or better yet, a full dental insurance coverage? If so, what is the catch?
The Great Difference : Discount Dental Plan vs. a Full Coverage Dental Insurance
Discount dental plan companies boast of their “accessibility” and their very affordable plans that are mostly packaged with certain benefits like easy access to cosmetic dental surgery or orthodontics services with lesser hassles on paperwork and waiting for approvals. There is this issue of discount plans being more flexible and less strict on maximum coverage limits.
Though both Full and Discount Dental Coverage categorize plans as either ‘individual dental Insurance, group dental insurance, or family dental insurance’ and all claim that they provide dental plans that give the best from the dental experts, there remains the pros and cons.
Full Coverage Dental Plans offer a more defined and stringent way to access their benefits not only because they intend to limit the usage but to make sure that before a dental service is availed by a member, they are fully aware of the consequences and that in this matter they will rethink before undergoing unnecessary cosmetic procedures that may be a fad but is considered “unsafe” and thus, not insurable.
If for example a member wishes to avail of teeth filing to alter the shape of his/her individual teeth to achieve a look or a fad but would be detrimental to the health of the gums or teeth, then in no way a truly caring and legally perceptive dental insurance company allow such to transpire.
Discount Dental Insurances or Dental Coverage as a consequence of a health care benefit pretty much leaves this option to the card holder, and offers a quick fix to getting the benefit. Meanwhile a highly caring dental insurance would make you think otherwise due to limitations of their acceptable coverage terms.
The best way around is to ask some very important questions. One, does the insurance, whether full coverage or discount or partial insurance, and/or health care dental coverage provide service for immediate situations like dental cleaning and tooth extraction and yet covers the maximum amount for basic dental services as needed?
Secondly, does these dental insurance firms at the same time provides a clause to ‘assured coverage’ in the event that these basic and immediate claims will result to a mishap, and still provide full coverage to repair such mishaps and in fact conduct pre test such as dental x-ray as a requirement especially when the dental procedure becomes delicate or major?
Where to Get the Best Full Coverage Dental Insurance
1. Aetna Dental Insurance is a trusted insurance provider known to deliver outstanding dental services that come with the name it carries. It is also known for having a vast option of services. Aetna’s dental insurance offers three basic types of dental insurance.
The Dental Maintenance Organization (DMO®), for instance, is the low cost dental insurance plan wherein one has the option to choose a primary dentist who gives you a referral If you will require a specialist treatment, for example if you need an orthodontics. Thus, there is peace of mind that you will be able to move on to the next level of services with proper diagnosis and a referral at no extra cost or annual maximums.
This is very important especially when you will be diagnosed with a disease that requires oral surgery as they offer plans that cover these kinds of medical cases. There is a pre treatment estimate before conducting any operation on patients and it also provides plans that have options for qualified dependents like students who are unemployed and under 19 as well as disabled dependents. On top of all these great services, they have a hotline that addresses members’ concerns.
2. Delta Dental Insurance elevates the service standards of the dental insurance industry by providing its clients with three important plus factors: being cost effective for increased savings, having more qualified dental practitioners and maintaining a high level of trust among its clientele.
Delta is a proud ally of the Delta Dental Plans Association that is backed with reliable dental services that is highly coveted by the American public. It offers a wide span of coverage and is known for its accessibility as backed with over 30 Delta companies supporting the whole operation. Delta is an advocate of dental rights and believes that certain legal reforms on full dental coverage of Americans should be passed by Senate to achieve the following: Give Americans a choice to get the best dental plans specifically stand alone dental services and streamlines quality services from its carriers. It is not just about lowering cost but more on getting high quality and reasonably priced dental services that people deserve.
3. GE Wellness Plan stands out from other full dental insurance service providers that provide free oral examination, a flat 30% discount on over 170 dental procedures. In fact, individual members of the family can chose their own preferred dentist from the listed dentists. They also allow reimbursements in cases of orthodontics (including braces) and guess what, no age limit for the plan holders. GE is not so strict with background checks unlike other dental insurances today.
Finally, the real question is not what you can access and how fast you can access dental services as advertised, but by how much coverage the dental insurance is willing to provide (scope of the benefit and after service insurance options). After all, a tooth still attached to a gum is more precious than how white it can get after chemical treatments. In choosing between full coverage and discount dental insurance, the answer should always be ‘skin deep,’ don’t you agree?