Is dental insurance worth the cost?

Most health insurance plans don’t cover dental care, so this becomes the key question. You ask yourself, if you can get access to affordable dental care through cheap dental insurance, the kind that won’t break your budget but will help you and your loved ones. In other words, is dental insurance worth the cost?

You can search this question online, but you won’t find any consistent answers.

You’ll find articles (usually on sites selling dental insurance) that say definitely “Yes.” Of course, you should have it. Taking care of your teeth as part of your overall health is important.

You’ll find articles (on financial advice websites or sites selling dental discount plans) that say definitely “No.” Between the premium and the annual maximums, they say, the best you can do is break even on your investment.

The real answer is, “It depends.” The decision to get any insurance isn’t solely a financial one, is it? Insurance is one of those things you buy hoping you never have to use it. Sometimes you’re paying to help address and area of concern or worry or to declare a priority for yourself.

The key question you want to ask is - Is Dental Insurance Right for Me?

This is probably the real question. Whether or not it makes sense for you depends on where you’re at in life, what you value or what want to protect. So what might help you decide if it is worth the cost to you?

·  You don’t like surprises, especially ones involving money. Dental insurance can help with some of the surprise costs that come with your teeth, the cavity you weren’t expecting or that fall that left you with a broken tooth.
·  You like discounts, but you don’t like to negotiate. If you don’t like to haggle at car dealerships, chances are you’re not going to want to haggle with your dentist over getting a cash discount. You don’t have to worry about that with your dental coverage. In-network dental providers agree to discounted rates on the services they provide. No dickering, no hassle, you just benefit from a pre-negotiated lower rate.
·  You’re older. According to Medicare.gov, the official U.S. government site for Medicare, “Medicare doesn’t cover most dental care, dental procedures, or supplies, like cleanings, fillings, tooth extractions, dentures, dental plates, or other dental devices.” It will only cover certain dental services you get when you are staying in hospital or for hospital care if it’s required for emergency or complicated dental services.1 If you’re concerned about the dental issues that come with aging, then a dental plan may be just the right thing to keep you in your healthy dental habits, encourage regular checkups and help with dental costs.
·  You’re not so good at saving money. Don’t worry. Most of us aren’t. “The majority of American households (55 percent) are savings-limited, meaning they can replace less than one month of their income through liquid savings.”2 This means having dental insurance provide some buffer against possible dental costs may suit you.
·  You have kids. Children’s teeth change with remarkable speed. Dental insurance can be a way to keep up. Having it often means access to preventive care either through a low copay or at no additional cost at all, depending on the plan. Regular cleanings, routine exams and X-rays, and fluoride treatments are the types of preventive services many dental plans will cover for kids. And that kind of treatment early and regularly can head off the larger and more expensive problems down the road.
·  You’re looking to get into a healthier lifestyle routine. If you’ve ever bought a gym membership or a treadmill to help remind you to take care of yourself, dental insurance can be that reminder to take care of your teeth. Even better, it can help you plan, control and budget for the costs of your dental care. The benefits of a healthy dental lifestyle could be significant to both your overall health and finances. Tooth decay remains the single most prevalent chronic disease in both children and adults, and a 2012 United States Senate report stated over 830,000 emergency room visits were due to preventable dental issues.

These are just some of the reasons finding the right dental plan might be worth it to you in your current situation. If you are looking to learn more about any specific dental plans, then you can choose to read any of the following links about each dental insurance.

Aetna dentist
Assurant dentist
BCBS dentist
Cigna dentist
Delta dental dentist
Dental health alliance dentist
Metlife dentist
United concordia dentist

At Reading Dental Associates, we accept all major dental insurances.  So if you are going to sign-up, then do use your plan and do not let it expire.