Is dental insurance worth it

Answer 1

For most the cost of dental benefits is less than your daily cup of coffee. Depending on what you buy that might be regular coffee or it might be Starbucks(c). (NOTE: Costs will vary by area of the country and coverage.)

Most dental policies are offered through employers. About 75% of employers pay all or a substantial portion of dental premium. Depending on the type of dental benefit---DHMO, DPPO or Dental Indemnity, the employee's premium is about the cost of having dinner out once a month---ranging from about $19 to $32 monthly or $228 to $384 on an annual basis in 2014. Even at the high end of that range---dental benefits cost annually what medical premiums cost an individual on a monthly basis.

Employee only:

DHMO -- $18.59 a month--$223.06 annually

DPPO -- $32.12 a month--$285.44 annually

Indemnity -- $24.00 a month--$288.00 annually

Employee & Family[1]:

DHMO -- $37.09 a month--$445.08 annually

DPPO -- $72.13 a month--$865.56 annually

Indemnity -- $55.51 a month--$666.12 annually

DPPOs are the most common dental coverage and have an annual maximum that averages from $1000 to $1500. Only 2%-5% of people hit. this maximum annually. DPPOs negotiate discounts on the cost of care that average about 25%. If you do hit your annul maximum, you still get the discount if the service you receive would have been covered by the policy. If you are concerned that you will hit the maximum, consider a DHMO which don't have these maximums but do have narrower networks of participating dentists, You do have to use a dentist in the network to have your services covered.

Discount Dental Plans are another option. Fees for these plans can range from a few dollars a month to $10 or $12 dollars a month for an individual or $20 to $30 a month for a family. Discount plans provide a discount on treatment and routine visits--from 20% to 50% . Then you pay the full discounted cost out of pocket.

If you do not get dental benefits through your employer, you can search for a dental plan that offers individual policies in you state at nadp.org. Just click on the "Find a Dental Plan" green button on the home page and select individual coverage for your state. You will get a list of dental carriers in your state with information on what type of individual coverage is available. You can limit your search to a DHMO, DPPO, or Discount Dental Plan if you know which type of coverage you prefer.

Data from the National Association of Dental Plans research reports

--submitted by Evelyn F. Ireland, Executive Director

[1] Family coverage extends to the insured, spouse and dependents---no matter the number. There are usually separate, lower rates for an insured with a single dependent. So a family policy covers 3 or more individuals.