Do You Need Dental Insurance?

Most of us realize the importance of having health insurance to help us pay for any health care costs, but treatment from dentists is often not included benefits. Yet, having the good dental care is important for all of us.  In order to be able to afford these sometimes pricey procedures, it is important to have the right kind of insurance.  Treatment from dentists can be covered by special coverage plan known as dental insurance.

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

Some health care plans will also cover dental procedures.  If not you may want to buy 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 what is and isn't covered. This is because not all dental treatment will be covered by every dental contract.  You can expect that your dental insurance companies will almost invariably place limits on or restrict the types of dental treatment to be covered.  In addition, some plans or insurances also provide a list of dentists that they work with and only dental work done by these participating dentists will be covered. If another dentist is chosen, then the services performed will not be paid for by the company providing the dental insurance.

Understanding what is covered and isn't covered is crucial to making the best choice.  You should also be aware of the dollar limitations your dental policy has.  Some will have low annual or lifetime caps.

Dental insurance may be available through an employer-sponsored policy.  Also, it  can be bought through your medical insurance provider. If those options are not available or too costly, insurance brokers can provide quotes from various insurers that sell dental insurance. Plans can also be purchased online directly from an insurance company. These websites not only provide rate quotes, but an easy to read table that compares different plans and that makes it easier to choose the right dental insurance coverage.