Do You Need Dental Insurance?

Most of us realize the importance of having medical insurance to help us pay for any medicine and health care, but most plans will not cover dental expense. Yet, having the proper dental treatment is important for all of us. In order to be able to afford these sometimes costly treatments, it is important to have the right kind of insurance. Dental and orthodontic care can be covered by special coverage plan known as dental insurance. 

Many kinds of dentistry services are covered by dental insurance policies. This includes the typical things like fillings, cleanings, crowns, and x-rays. Depending upon the plan, dental insurance may also include root canals, extractions and even emergency tooth replacements. Even though many of the smaller or minor expenses are completely covered by dental plans or health insurance polices that also cover dental treatments, most do not pay for the entire costs of major treatments. If major dental work is needed, the policy will cover up to a certain amount and anything more than that has to be paid out of pocket.

Some medical care plans will pay for dental treatment, but it is also possible to invest in a separate dental policy. The premiums can vary according to the coverage level you select.

If dental insurance is provided by a medical insurance policy, attention must be paid to how the policy will cover you. This is because not all dental work will be covered by every dental insurance policy. The carriers will almost invariably place limits on or restrict the types of dental procedures to be covered. In addition, you will probably find that only dental work done by these participating dentists will be covered. Going to another dentist could result in higher out-of-pocket costs.

Before making a final decision make sure that you understand what is covered. You should also understand the dollar limitations your dental policy has. Some will have low annual or lifetime caps.

You may be able to find group insurance coverage for dental services through your employer. Or you may find that it can be purchased through your medical insurance provider. If those options are not possible or too expensive, insurance brokers can provide price quotes from various carriers that sell dental insurance. Plans can also be purchased online directly from an insurance company. Contacting a broker is often the best option, however. An agent or broker experienced in this area can help you reach the right decision more quickly.