Introduction to Discount Dental Plans
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, more than 100 million Americans are currently living without any form of affordable dental care coverage. This is certainly an alarming number considering the widely accepted link between dental health and overall health.
The National Association of Dental Plans(NADP) considers discount dental plans as a viable, cost-effective alternative:
"With an estimated 45 percent of Americans not having any type of dental coverage, and the dental insurance marketplace offering few, affordable dental products for individuals, discount dental plans are an attractive answer to the need to reduce consumer out-of-pocket costs and increase access to care..."
Starting at just $79.95/year for individuals and just $129.95/year for families, discount dental plans provide significant savings over traditional dental insurance. The best part is, discount dental plans can be used over and over, potentially saving consumers hundreds, if not thousands of dollars each year.
In a report released in 2005 by the National Association of Dental Plans, the average monthly premium paid for individual HMO dental insurance(Traditional) was nearly $16/month, or about $192/year, compared to even more($288/year) for individual PPO dental insurance and a whopping $372/year for individual indemnity insurance. As traditional dental insurance rates continue to rise at astonishing rates, discount dental plan rates do not. In fact, the NADP states,
"Discount dental plans have become an economical and important alternative to combat the rising cost of health care . They are a cost-effective vehicle for millions of underserved consumers to improve their access to dental care..."
How do discount dental plans work?
Discount dental plans are designed for individuals, families and groups looking to save money on their dental care needs. Participating dental care providers have agreed to accept a discounted fee from plan members as payment-in-full for services performed. As a DentalPlans.com plan member, you simply show your membership card when visiting any participating plan provider to receive dental services at discounted fees.
Which Dental Procedures are Covered?
Discount dental plans offer savings on a wide variety of dental care procedures. The specific procedures that are eligible for discounts vary from plan-to-plan. However, most discount dental plans available at Dentalplans.com provide discounts for the following:
- Examinations
- Cleanings
- x-rays
- Fluoride Treatments
- Root canals Braces Dentures Wisdom Teeth Extractions
- Gum surgery Dental implants Fillings Crowns
- Bridges
Looking for a Dental Plan provider? Here's a list of popular dental plan companies: