Individual Dental Insurance 101
If you are looking for a dental insurance plan, individual dental insurance is the best choice to keep your costs under control and cover what other plans leave uncovered. Understanding how this type of coverage works can help you make an informed decision when it comes to purchasing individual dental insurance.
This post is tailored to answer all the most commonly asked questions about individual dental insurance so that before you start shopping, you have a list of what will be covered and what won't be.
2.1 Introduction to Health Insurance and Plans
In every state in America, it's illegal for employers not to provide health benefits as a form of compensation unless their number of employees are less than 20.
How many people do you know that work for a company with less than 20 employees?
Unless you work for yourself, an employer's health insurance plan is the only way to get your health benefits.
If you are more than one person, it could mean covering everyone in your family as part of your health insurance plan: spouses, domestic partners along with their children and all extended family that live under the same household. If you have a big family then this could be very expensive. As you can imagine, this is why individual dental insurance is so popular among parents.
If you have a policy and your employer has a bad year, when the insurance company sends out the final bill, if they decide that you had coverage as part of the family plan before, then they will send you back to the individual plan. The company that took over your policy after a bad year will send out separate bills for each individual.
In 2018, there are two main types of dental insurance: 1) Dental plans offered by employers (usually provided through work) 2) Non-Dental Insurance Plans offered by an insurance brokerage
Many people think that dental insurance is very expensive so they have no idea what their coverage actually means. A dental plan is considered a major medical insurance plan that helps pay for basic dental care. It will usually provide coverage for services such as preventive examinations, cleanings, fillings and xrays.
How do you know what type of individual dental insurance you need?
We all know how important dental care is to our overall health and well-being, but many of us don't have the time or resources to get the procedures that we need because of their costs. The best way to determine what type of individual dental insurance is a good fit for you or your family is to take a look at your current spending habits as they relate to care and treatment.
Is there a way to get individual dental insurance at a reduced price?
As with any type of insurance, you can always get a discount on your premium by doing some comparison shopping. While going through the list of major carriers on our website is a good first step, you may want to see if other companies offer individual health plans that can meet your needs. This means you'll have to visit their websites and look for pricing rates and different options, including dental coverage.
You may also be able to limit the amount of money you pay out-of-pocket each year if you stick with one company for all of your insurance plans. This will keep you from having to shop around for insurance every year.
2.2 What is Individual Dental Insurance?
Individual dental insurance is simply an alternative to other types of coverage that are offered through your employer that are paid for by your employer's health insurance plan. It is called "individual" because you pay the bills and get reimbursed from your own funds, not the company's funds, which reduces out-of-pocket costs. This type of policy differs from other types of coverage such as group dental plans or employer group medical plans because they are specifically designed for individuals and typically come with higher deductibles.
Individual dental insurance can meet your needs and needs even if you already have some coverage.
2.3 Does my employer offer individual dental insurance?
Most employers do offer health insurance, but only a small portion of employers offer dental insurance. In general, the larger the company, the less likely it is that they will have a comprehensive plan with an HMO or PPO component included in their offerings.
Most companies offering a comprehensive plan include some form of dental coverage in their offerings, meaning that you could have access to limited benefits through your employer's group plan at a reduced rate or at no cost if you have some coverage before the event occurs (pre-existing condition).
However, some dental plans are offered at no cost (pre-existing condition); others are offered through an employer's HMO or PPO as part of a small business package; and some employers offer a contract only plan that will cover only emergency services such as cleaning teeth and filling cavities.
When considering whether your employer offers dental coverage, it's important to be aware that many employers are starting to stop offering coverage for you as an employee. This means that the only type of coverage you can expect from your employer is through the company's health insurance plan.
Even if the company offers dental insurance, it is often limited in scope and may not include all services or procedures available through other plans (see 2.4). This means that if you have a major dental problem and need to see an oral surgeon, you may be required to pay out-of-pocket.
2.4 Who is eligible for Individual Dental Insurance?
With individual dental coverage, eligibility criteria are not determined by your employer or your health insurance company. Eligibility for individual dental insurance is based on your personal income and the cost of the coverage (based upon plan choices). You will need to file the "Federal Poverty Level Worksheet" with your application in order to determine whether this type of coverage will meet your needs .
2.5 How is individual dental insurance paid for?
Once you have determined that this type of coverage will meet your needs, you will need to find out how it is paid for. The major provider of individual dental insurance in the country today are either privately owned or publicly traded companies. Health insurance brokers offer individual dental plans, and some carriers also offer them as part of their own plans. It is important to understand that when you purchase a plan from an insurance agent, the agent receives a commission based on the price you pay for the plan.
You will either need to pay the premium to the agent or directly to the insurance carrier. Payment options include: cash, check, credit card, and financing through third-party lenders (usually banks or credit unions).
Most plans are paid for on a monthly or quarterly basis. This means that you will either be required to make payments directly to an insurance company each month or you can choose to take out a loan from your bank.
2.6 How do I find individual dental insurance?
Simply stated, you can find individual dental insurance online today because most carriers have an online presence and a variety of options available for online purchase.
Conclusion
Individual dental insurance is a great way to ensure that you meet your daily needs for oral care and treatment. It can help fill in gaps in your coverage, or it can act as a supplement to your employer's group medical or dental plans.
If you have access to an employer-sponsored plan, you may want to consider covering the cost of dental insurance separately. This will give you more flexibility in deciding what type of package meets your needs. If you're self-employed, buying individual dental insurance is the right decision if you are looking for more benefits than are offered through other types of coverage.
Dental coverage is available for purchase on a monthly basis and typically does not require a physical exam prior to being eligible for treatment.