We have a dental plan. Let’s face it…lots of things can go wrong with teeth as the age! Just make sure your benefit is a “rich” one that covers things like root canals and crowns.
I have found dental plans that my company has had to be sort of weak – they cover most procedures but pay very little of the actual cost. Need to find a “rich” plan.
Our BCBS plan covers some dental. The dental plan that was a stand-alone was mainly a pre-paid dental, so we didn’t want that.
My joke about dental insurance: if the same philosophy applied to auto insurance, you’d be covered for oil changes but not implants.
Our retiree medical plan doesn’t include dental. Our dentist told us that from what he’s seen, it’s better to put the premium $ aside to cover typical dental costs. He gives a discount for cash payment at the time of service and doesn’t accept prepaid dental plans. We love the guy. No unnecessary work, options given whenever possible, he often recommends the less-expensive option, will credit for something that failed. A good dentist w/o insurance is better than a mediocre one with.
True,but I think I’d rather have a good dentist with insurance, as I have crappy teeth, and insurance is worthwhile. Most dentists take insurance, so I don’t think it’s one or the other.
Given the typical limits of dental “insurance”, it is more like prepaid dental services, and usually not worth buying as an individual (employers buy it so that they can give it as a benefit to employees but not have to do the billing reimbursement themselves – similar with vision).
My parents have Delta Dental. Not only does it cover the services they use, it gives them the dentist’s preferred provider rate. They still have to go out of pocket significantly, but since they have many dental issues, they would never give up their dental insurance. It pays out the max for them every year.
My younger son has Cigna, not paid for by an employer. Since he also has crappy teeth, he will utilize every cent on that policy.
It really does depend on your teeth/mouth and the particular plan as to whether or not having dental coverage is worth it or not. I did carefully examine the costs vs benefits of the one dental plan H was offered and FOR US, it was not worth it. Our regular medical insurance covers a portion of most dental procedures–xrays, cleanings, crowns, fillings, extractions (including wisdom teeth). So far, none of us have had root canal or anything beyond the things covered at least partly by our medical plan.
I agree that for some folks and SOME policies, dental insurance can be quite valuable.
Lordy, it really pays to read what you write as you get older! the joke is:
if the same philosophy applied to auto insurance as dental insurance, you’d be covered for oil changes but not collisions.
When I had two kids living at home, our cost for dental insurance was about the same as the cost for our two cleanings each year, and the cleanings were “free” with dental insurance, so it was a no brainer. Now we keep dental insurance, but youngest kid as aged out, and I need to do the numbers again. But I am thinking I. Going to need a root canal and/or implant soon (like I’m an expert), and my husband needs some work, so I’m thinking I will keep our insurance for at least a couple more years.
All,of a sudden I find I wish I had dental insurance. My long term dentist doesn’t take insurance, but now I need orthodontia Yuck. It seems the PPO plans have a 6-12 month waiting period. Still, I’m open to suggestions
@bookworm a lot of dental plans exclude orthodontia. In all our years of having dental insurance, we only had one plan that covered it…luckily when DD had braces…but it only covered $1000 of the $5000 bill.
My retiree dental plan costs all of $30 a month. It’s part of what is offered in our package of insurance. My six month check ups would cost more than the premiums i pay,and every year, it seem I have some other dental crisis…like a crown or root canal. So my dental plan is worth the cost. YMMV.
@bookworm - Are there any dental schools near you Do they have an orthodonture specialty that you could volunteer for? That would be very cost effective!
Most dental plans cover orthodontia for kids only, up to $1000-2000 lifetime max.
Thx all. Your comments confirmed my internet search from yesterday
Good idea, JYM. Nearest is an hour away. I’ll call Monday. Also, I won’t have my consult for 2 weeks. This is one of the last things I needed. But at least it’s not an illness.
Yeah - we were lucky enough to have gotten the dental plan before second kid’s braces. I think they paid about $3K of the $10K Bill. He had “pre-braces work” - expanding his palate and can’t remember what else, before the braces went on, and none of that was covered.
My cousin works for a DDS and said to look at Delta for plans but to be very careful because there is frequently a wait period before services kick in. Turns out my brother’s employer provides dental and vision for retirees.
Nothing to do with retirement, but when we had dental plans through work that did (supposedly) include orthodontia for our children, the self-pay option was usually $1000 - $1500 LESS than if using insurance (which of course only covered up to $1000 - $1500 max). And relating to retirement: I’ve recently been comparing Medicare “D” plans (new to Medicare). Paying outright for one of my prescriptions is $60/mo, nearly 1/3 the cost charged by the drug plans ($150/mo) ! And under current company provided insurance it was only $4. “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark”?
wow! One minute you are applying to college (your kids are), and next thing you know you are applying for Social Security (my wife did today). Online, it was pretty easy. Starts in 2 months.