Family Health And Dental Insurance

If you have a family, it is important that you choose an insurance plan that allows for each member to choose their own provider. Having the flexibility to choose a dentist that you trust is important, you should not have to change your dentist just because you change insurance carriers. With Guardian Direct, each family member can choose their own dentist from a large network of dental professionals so each person can choose a dentist that works for them. This is important because if one member of the family has a dentist that they trust and have been seeing for a long time, they dont have to change providers. As a stand alone dental insurance coverage plan, if you change health insurance carriers you would still be able to keep your dentist. This might not be possible with a bundled plan as the network of dentists may be different from carrier to carrier.Regardless of your level of coverage through Guardian, there is a good chance that there is a dentist in network near you.

What Is The Difference Between Dental Insurance And Orthodontic Insurance

There is actually quite a big difference between these types of insurances. You cannot have orthodontic insurance without having some sort of dental insurance, but you certainly can have dental insurance without having orthodontic insurance. A lot of times you can choose to have orthodontic coverage when purchasing your dental insurance for the upcoming year. In terms of the orthodontic insurance, sometimes this will only cover children up to a certain age, like 19 or 26 for example. Other times there will be no age limit and there will be adult coverage for treatment, which is great news if you do have that type of coverage since we are seeing more and more adults who are interested in orthodontic treatment. If you do have dental insurance and would like us to check on it to see if there is any orthodontic benefit we would be happy to do so!

Pros And Cons Of Dental Insurance

Dental insurance can provide numerous benefits, including paying for preventive care.

Insurance usually covers preventive care in full, says Albert Abena, assistant dean for Community Partnerships of the College of Dental Medicine at the University of New England. Keep in mind that getting regular preventive care can safeguard your oral health from future issues and provide advance knowledge of possible problems that your dentist can address proactively instead of reactively.

Bill Green, owner of Green Insurance Agency in Orange Park, Florida, says dental insurance can lead to lower costs when you need care.

Even if you just get two cleanings a year, it should pay for itself, says Green.

But dental policies have their drawbacks, too. Daniel Cho, a dentist in Portland, Oregon, says plans have special rules, such as age limitations for fluoride treatment or missing tooth clauses.

Insurance typically does not cover 3-D X-rays, moderate or deeper levels of sedation, sleep dentistry and cosmetic work. And your plan may only cover a small portion of the total cost for advanced surgical procedures, Cho says.

Here are pros and cons of dental insurance:

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Benefits Of Dual Health Insurance Coverage

Dual health insurance coverage can be an attractive option for eligible employees because the two plans can be essentially stacked on top of each other to provide more extensive benefits. This is particularly important when major illnesses, catastrophic injuries, or other large claims arise.

In a dual coverage situation, the primary insurer will pay out benefits first. However, those benefits may not, and usually will not, cover all out-of-pocket expenses for a particular procedure, treatment, or hospitalization. In such cases, the secondary coverage would kick in, and the benefits under that plan could make up the difference in whole or in part. Dual coverage can often bring the employees costs down to zero for a given claim.

Dual health insurance coverage also provides a backstop for an employee who loses their job. Without dual coverage, unemployed individuals who relied on their old employer for their health insurance could be left without any coverage whatsoever. Even though they could obtain coverage through COBRA or on the Arizona individual and family healthcare marketplace, the cost may be prohibitive or the benefits may be woefully inadequate.

But with dual coverage, that unemployed individuals will still have health insurance coverage and can obtain benefits through their spouses or parents plan without any interruption in benefits.

Can I Get Dental Insurance Without A Job

Yes. You dont need a job to have dental insurance. As an example, dental insurance for college students is one way someone without traditional employee benefits can keep their oral hygiene in check.

Not all employers offer dental insurance, but you can easily buy a dental insurance plan for yourself if youre a freelancer or part of the gig economy.

Anyone can shop around and online – typically within minutes.

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Potential Downsides Of Dual Health Insurance Coverage

Expanded benefits and protection from losing coverage after losing a job are unequivocally positive aspects of dual health insurance coverage. However, like most things in life, those upsides come with some downsides as well. First, with two health insurance plans, the covered individuals pay twice as much in premiums as they would if they opted out of one plan and put all their coverage eggs in the basket of their spouses or parents plan.

Another challenge with dual health insurance coverage is that the coordination of benefits between two plans and two carriers can be complicated and sometimes messy. Things can get especially messy in situations where one plan is a PPO and the other is an HMO, or where a covered employee may also be eligible for Medicare.

Find And Compare Dental Plans

The best way to know if dental insurance is right for you is to shop around and compare plans.

Our plan comparison tool allows you to filter plans by insurance company, monthly premium, and annual maximum.

You can get a dental plan quote through our site with no commitment. The process takes just minutes out of your day: You enter your zip code, birthday, and gender to get a list of plans, plan benefits, and prices.

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What Do Dental Plans Cover

Depending on the plan you choose, our dental insurance benefits can include:

What Does Insured Mean In Health Insurance Policy

Lets begin by explaining what exactly is the meaning of insured in case of a health insurance policy. The whole objective of buying health insurance for you or your family is that you intend to secure their and your future health. This simply means that in the event of an unforeseen medical emergency that may require a huge spend on healthcare, you need not put a heavy burden on your pocket.

For this purpose, you buy a health insurance policy that would offer you insurance coverage for the total amount borne on healthcare expenditure. This means that you are now insured under your health insurance plan and will be covered by your insurer in case of any hospitalization or huge spend on healthcare needs.

Note: Theres yet another reference to the term insured when speaking of insurance in general. The term insured commonly refers to the policyholder who has bought the insurance policy. He/she now becomes the insured party under the specific plan, while the insurance company or the service provider is referred to as the insurer.

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Q: What Doesn’t Dental Insurance Cover

A: As mentioned above, some dental plans don’t cover anything beyond the basics, so keep that in mind while shopping for this type of insurance.

Besides that, most dental plans don’t cover cosmetic procedures. So, if you want veneers, or if you want your teeth whitened, you’ll usually have to pay for it out of your own pocket.

Also, most dental plans don’t cover orthodontic work. And they rarely cover mouth guards for clenching or grinding.

Considering how many procedures and treatments dental insurance plans tend to exclude, thoroughly read a policy’s fine print before you agree to buy it.

How Much Does Dental Coverage Vary By State

In every part of the country, pediatric dental coverage has to be made available through the exchange either as a stand-alone plan or integrated with the health plans that are available to families. Some states require all health plans to embed pediatric dental, while other states rely on stand-alone dental plans to provide this coverage.

For adults, dental coverage is rarely embedded in medical plans. But its widely available via stand-alone dental plans, either purchased through the exchange or directly from an insurance company. These plans will vary from state to state in terms of which insurers offer the coverage. But there tend to be a lot of similarities in terms of the coverage thats offered on the available plans.

State Medicaid programs have to cover pediatric dental, but there is wide state-to-state variation in terms of how Medicaid covers adult dental care.

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Adult Dental Plans Through Acas Marketplace

For the most part, the Affordable Care Act didnt help expand access to adult dental coverage. Dental insurance is generally available through the health insurance marketplace, but only during open enrollment or a special enrollment period, and often only in conjunction with an ACA-compliant health plan.

Heres more about adult dental coverage through the marketplace:

• Do ACA marketplace plans include coverage for adults?

Preventive Dental Care Helps Prevent These Problems

There are multiple dental plans with different levels of benefits to help you find the best dental insurance fit for your budget.4 If youve ever bought a gym membership or a treadmill to help remind you to take care of yourself, supplemental dental insurance from Golden Rule Insurance Company can be similar. Its that reminder to take care of your teeth. Even better, it can help you plan ahead for the costs of your dental care.

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Tips For Buying Dental Insurance

As youre shopping for a dental insurance policy, make sure that your current dentist accepts the plan youre considering . Licensed insurance brokers like eHealth make it easy to search for plans that have your current dentist in network. You can start browsing dental insurance plans using eHealths plan finder tool or find individual and family plans that include dental coverage.

Before enrolling in any dental coverage, be sure to read the fine print to make sure you understand what youll be responsible for paying out of pocket, whats covered versus whats not, and what your deductible will be. You can save money by only buying what you need stand-alone policies these days are very customizable to suit your needs and budget. If you like, eHealths team of knowledgeable licensed insurance agents can walk you through your options. Just give us a call during business hours to get personalized help.

On a final note, dont put off shopping for a dental insurance plan. As mentioned, most plans have a waiting period of up to a few months before coverage will officially kick in, so the sooner you purchase a policy, the sooner you can start using your dental benefits.

Where Can I Get Travel Insurance

You can get travel insurance from:

• Travel insurance brokers. These are companies which operate online and offer travel insurance plans from different insurance companies. You can choose some which seem more fitting, and compare them side-by-side.
• Travel insurance companies directly. Most of them operate online, so you can buy it from home. You can also visit a local insurance company in-person.
• From your airline or travel agency. Airlines and travel agencies offer complimentary travel insurance along with your flight ticket or tour. Be wary of these plans, since they can sometimes be over-priced.

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Find Affordable Dental Coverage Today

Does a dental savings plan sound right for you and your family? Contact Aetna Dental Offers to learn more about this affordable insurance alternative. Get a free price quote so that you can compare affordable discount plans with traditional insurance, to find the right dental coverage for your budget.

Overview Of Dental Insurance

First, heres a breakdown of how individual dental insurance works. You select a plan based on the providers who you want to be able to visit and what you can afford to pay.

• If you already have a dentist you like and they are in the insurance companys network, youll be able to opt for one of the less expensive plans.
• If you dont have a dentist at all, you can choose from any of the dentists who are in the network and again have the option of a less expensive plan.
• If your existing dentist is not in the network, you can still get insurance, but youll pay significantly more to see an out-of-network providerso much more that you may not have any chance at coming out ahead by being insured.

The monthly premiums will depend on the insurance company, your location, and the plan that you choose. For many people, the monthly premium will be around $50 a month. This means that youre spending $600 on dental costs each year even if you dont get any work done.

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Can You Get Dental Insurance Anytime

Yes. There is no open enrollment period like there is for health insurance. You can buy dental insurance any time of the year, and coverage typically starts within days of submitting your application.

Note: There may be a waiting period for major services, so its smart to review any dental plan youre interested in to confirm the waiting and coverage periods.

Which Costs More Insurance Or A Discount Dental Plan

In most cases, a dental insurance plan offers flat enrollment rates that are predefined by your employer, or that youve chosen to add to your medical insurance plan. What most people find though, is that they become frustrated by the number of restrictions on their dental plan which can make it challenging to cover unexpected or large treatment cases.

A dental savings plan is an affordable alternative to insurance because you can purchase the type of discount plan that fits your specific needs and budget. You may just want to save on checkups and cleanings, or you may need a dental discount plan that offers significant savings on complex treatments like crowns, root canals, etc.

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Whats The Difference Between Dental Insurance And Dental Discount Plans

Home> FAQs> Whats the difference between dental insurance and dental discount plans?

• Health insurance & health reform authority

Q. Whats the difference between dental insurance and dental discount plans?

A. They can both be useful in terms of reducing your total dental costs, but they vary significantly in terms of the benefits you get and how much you pay for the coverage.

Q: Which Plan Pays First

A: The plan that pays first is considered the primary plan. This is determined by COB, which is usually dictated by state and government regulations. Generally, the primary plan is the one in which the patient is the main policyholder. The secondary plan is the plan that the patient is covered as a dependent.

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Should You Buy Dental Coverage

If youre currently without dental coverage, you might be wondering whether or not its worth buying your own policy. Theres no universal answer here, as everyones financial situation and oral health needs are different.

Generally, youll want to start by considering the costs of a dental plan versus your typical annual dental care costs. Break down what your dentist charges for twice-a-year cleanings, X-rays, fillings, and other routine care. Then, compare these costs with the dental plan premiums under different plans. Keep in mind that you may be able to deduct your insurance expenses come tax time.

Youll also want to consider your overall dental health when deciding whether to buy a policy of your own. If you have a history of dental problems, it will probably be worth spending the money on coverage to have the additional peace of mind. If youre on Medicare, remember that Medicare will not cover dental work unless medically necessary.

Tips For Choosing The Right Health And Dental Plan And Making Changes To Your Policy

When determining what the best coverage is for you, youll want to consider a few things, such as:

• Your medical history and any pre-existing conditions, which might make you need higher prescription or hospitalization coverage, or opt for a plan that doesnt require a medical questionnaire
• Your age if youre an older individual you might want coverage for home care or nursing care
• The needs of your dependents your children might need vision care or orthodontic treatment that you might want to account for in your plan.

Youll need to balance your needs with your budget too so youll want to look at such things as what percentage of health and dental expenses are covered, the size of the deductible , as well as the types of expenses covered.

Life is full of ups and downs, so if your circumstances change you might want to look at changing the coverage on your policy. You can increase your coverage on an existing policy by submitting a written application with updated medical information. Or, you can reduce your coverage if youve been covered under the existing benefits for at least 12 consecutive months. If you experience big life changes such as getting married or having a baby, you can add your spouse or baby to your coverage.

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