That said, insurance-negotiated rates are always lower that what dentists will charge to “self-insured.” A cleaning can be $300 paid by insurance but $600 out of pocket (this is what was billed to us when the dentist forgot that my husband had insurance). So that $2,000 annual limit might cover significantly more services. One can try to negotiate a cash rate…
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Delete.
There are separate dental insurance plans out there, but when I spoke with our dentist office, the Delta Dental plan we had through work was much better coverage than the Delta Dental plan through AARP – even though you don’t see that on their basic information (it looks like the same information with those two plans). So we paid for 18 months COBRA on dental.
Then our dentist had a “Dental Savings Plan” where we each pay $325/year for adult with healthy gums - and it includes 2 preventive cleanings and exams per year - with 2 Fluoride treatments per year and 2 oral cancer screenings per year, unlimited X-rays as needed, including one full mouth x-ray as needed, 1 emergency exam per year if needed, and 15% of any other treatments, including cosmetic procedures.
Obviously if you like your dentist and they don’t have coverage available, you may be willing to pay out of pocket. I would talk to dentist’s insurance processor to find out more information about other options that they know of.
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We also have a plan through our dentist. The annual cost is what 2 cleanings cost, and it includes 2 cleanings, x rays & a 20% discount on dental work.
We had really good dental insurance through H’s employer when he was working. I had to have a difficult tooth extraction when I broke a molar, and the oral surgery cost was so much less than the costs I heard others quoted while waiting in the waiting area. I talked to the office staff, who told me that our negotiated rates were really good. I don’t believe that any of the Medicare dental coverage is that good. I know that my dad, who retired from the same company as H, found that it was more cost effective to self insure for dental. We are not yet Medicare age but are checking into plans now in anticipation of H’s next birthday.
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Our original dentist retired and sold the practice to this H/W team - W’s family is all dentist in our area. We have been with practice since moving here in 1983. They built a new office on redesigned space on property and moved into new space and the old space was torn down - and new space is terrific (helps that the lot was big enough and the old office was small, and utilized the corner parking space well). The discount on the plan is great if new crown or other dental work is needed - but all our mouth work has been good and we take care of our teeth.
I have Delta Dental through their individual plans and it is inexpensive (like $90 a month for my husband and I). Almost the identical plan that we had through my husband’s company. In NJ at least, there are no discounts for market dental plans.
I have a Delta Dental PPO plan. I believe it covers more than their other plans. Check carefully. We were at the oral surgeon this week, and the Delta Dental PPO was the only one they were in network for.
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All insurance is by state, so you have to check.
My mother had United health medicare, and I know she had dental for at least 2022, maybe 2021 too. She really liked it and I know it covered the cleanings and a few other things (extractions?) She had to switch to a new dentist when she got it and new dentist was a lot closer and one of the ‘fancy’ ones with a nice office.
For many years, my parents used a private medicare provider and paid a LOT for the coverage (my father thought he knew everything because he was ‘in the insurance businesses’ but he didn’t know anything about health insurance or medicare). When that company went out of business, they switched to United (Medicare Advantage), cut their premiums by about 80%, didn’t have to pay as many co-pays, and got lots of extra benefits like better prescription coverage, glasses, dental.
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I have noticed some of the Advantage plans have the coverage you describe.
When people become more elderly/frail - an Advantage plan that covers their geographic area can be very cost effective as you state.
DH and I are on a Medigap plan, and have different Medicare D plans for drugs – and just changed each of our drug plan for 2023 for less payments on our current medications.