Regular health insurance policies often have a maximum amount in medical costs that you'll pay out-of-pocket. Dental insurance plans often do the opposite: They set an annual maximum on the amount they will pay for treatment in that year.
A typical annual maximum ranges between $750 and $1,500. Frequently, the cost of preventive procedures such as cleanings and X-rays is not subtracted from the maximum.
Obviously, the higher the maximum, the better for you – preferably, at the lowest cost. (To get a sense of prices, see The Average Cost of Dental Insurance in America).
Two Plan Types
Two types of dental coverage do not have an annual maximum – Dental Health Maintenance Organizations (DHMO) and discount dental plans.
Dental Health Maintenance Organization
DHMO plans, also called DMOs or pre-paid plans, require you to choose a primary care dentist or dental facility from the sponsor's network. If you need to see a specialist, your primary care dentist must refer you.
With a DHMO, you pay a fixed dollar amount (also known as a co-pay) for services. In most cases, preventive treatments, such as cleanings and X-rays, have no co-pay; they're included in the plan premiums you pay.
Discount Dental Plan
Discount dental plans are actually not insurance at all, but membership in a group that has negotiated discounted rates with a network of dentists.
There are no maximums or, for that matter, deductibles. You pay for all services rendered plus a (typically small) membership fee to belong to the plan.
Specific Insurers
Most major dental insurers offer DHMOs and/or discount dental plans. Offerings vary by state, however. So, before you get too excited about a particular option, be sure to see if it is available where you live.
Delta Dental
Delta Dental, one of the top-rated dental insurers in the business, has a DHMO plan called DeltaCare USA and a discount dental plan called Delta Dental Patient Direct.
With DeltaCare USA, you select a primary care dentist who manages your dental needs. Like most DHMO plans, DeltaCare USA lets you obtain preventative care for minimal (and in some cases, no) co-payments. There are no claim papers to fill out. The in-network dentist does all the paperwork.
A typical annual maximum ranges between $750 and $1,500. Frequently, the cost of preventive procedures such as cleanings and X-rays is not subtracted from the maximum.
Obviously, the higher the maximum, the better for you – preferably, at the lowest cost. (To get a sense of prices, see The Average Cost of Dental Insurance in America).
Two Plan Types
Two types of dental coverage do not have an annual maximum – Dental Health Maintenance Organizations (DHMO) and discount dental plans.
Dental Health Maintenance Organization
DHMO plans, also called DMOs or pre-paid plans, require you to choose a primary care dentist or dental facility from the sponsor's network. If you need to see a specialist, your primary care dentist must refer you.
With a DHMO, you pay a fixed dollar amount (also known as a co-pay) for services. In most cases, preventive treatments, such as cleanings and X-rays, have no co-pay; they're included in the plan premiums you pay.
Discount Dental Plan
Discount dental plans are actually not insurance at all, but membership in a group that has negotiated discounted rates with a network of dentists.
There are no maximums or, for that matter, deductibles. You pay for all services rendered plus a (typically small) membership fee to belong to the plan.
Specific Insurers
Most major dental insurers offer DHMOs and/or discount dental plans. Offerings vary by state, however. So, before you get too excited about a particular option, be sure to see if it is available where you live.
Delta Dental
Delta Dental, one of the top-rated dental insurers in the business, has a DHMO plan called DeltaCare USA and a discount dental plan called Delta Dental Patient Direct.
With DeltaCare USA, you select a primary care dentist who manages your dental needs. Like most DHMO plans, DeltaCare USA lets you obtain preventative care for minimal (and in some cases, no) co-payments. There are no claim papers to fill out. The in-network dentist does all the paperwork.
