Having a comprehensive dental insurance plan means that you do not have to worry about paying full price for any dental procedures that you need. This can help relieve any financial concerns that you might have when you are developing a treatment plan for you or a family member. However, such plans are more expensive, so is the additional expense worth it?
You might think that you just need a basic plan that only covers the minimum. Such plans usually only provide coverage for basic preventative care, such as annual cleanings and examinations. They may also provide some coverage for certain procedures such as fillings or X-rays. Any additional care that you may need will have to be paid for out of your own pocket.
If your teeth are in good shape, such a basic plan may seem like all you need. However, you never know when an emergency might happen. You could be eating lunch, bite an olive pit, and end up with a cracked tooth. If your basic dental plan does not cover emergency dental care, you would have to come up with the funds to pay for the needed repairs.
In many cases, choosing a bare-bones dental plan, rather than a full coverage dental insurance plan, is being penny wise but pound foolish. While you may save money in the short term by paying lower premiums, your long-term costs could end up being quite a bit more. This is more likely to be the case if you are choosing coverage for your entire family.
For example, if you have young children, you need to start taking them to the dentist at a young age and having family dental coverage is vital. Teaching your children about the importance of proper dental hygiene will help them keep their teeth strong and healthy. However, it is also quite likely that one or more of them will need braces at some point.
Every year, millions of teenagers need orthodontic treatment, and the cost of these procedures can easily be as much as $5,000 or more. Most basic insurance plans do not provide any orthodontic coverage, which means that you will have to pay for the whole cost of braces. Choosing a full coverage plan means that much of the cost of this treatment will be paid for by the insurance company.
In general, people who have more comprehensive dental coverage end up paying significantly less in the long run. This is both because their insurance pays for more procedures, and because they are more likely to seek treatment right away. This way, they are less prone to developing expensive dental conditions that can require long, involved treatment plans to correct.
At this point, you should be well aware of the many advantages offered by full coverage dental plans. For most people, the benefits of such plans are more than worth the additional cost. Of course, you will have to weigh the pros and cons for your situation before making a final decision.