Finding the right coverage
The type of dental insurance plan you choose will be dependent on individual factors, so it is crucial to assess the pros and cons of prospective policies according to your priorities. Is the plan for one person, or are you providing coverage for a family? How important is flexibility and choice to you, and how much are you prepared to spend? All these questions are important in guiding you to the right dental coverage.
Amount of coverage
One of the most vital pieces of information in any dental policy is the outline of which services and treatments are covered. You need to look carefully at the wording to understand just what the insurer is offering. For instance, a certain policy may only cover procedures the insurer deems to be medically essential, and this leads to another question: how do they define those terms? ‘Usual and customary’ treatments are often covered, and again you need to ascertain what exactly is covered by those terms. Decent insurance plans should cover most treatments, possibly with the exception of cosmetic procedures, and also annual checkups. By covering the cost of checkups, most insurers plan to save money from serious oral problems in the long-term.
What do you require?
How appealing a policy appears to you ultimately depends on what you need. As mentioned above, many plans do not cover cosmetic procedures, but if you are relying on those procedures then you will search for a plan that includes some. Wherever feasible, think about the procedures you might require in future. If a potential policy covers most or all of these, it may be right for you. Conversely, people who desire general coverage may be less interested in coverage for rare treatments, but concerned with waiting times for care and freedom to choose a dentist outside specified networks.
Exclusions
Most dental insurance plans will include certain absolute exclusions, which they do not cover at all. While surgeries and emergency treatment can often be covered to a lesser degree than preventative and ordinary care, good policies still cover around 50% to 80% of such costs. However, procedures judged to be purely cosmetic are rarely covered, which bears similarity to health insurance plans. Any exclusion of potentially necessary non-cosmetic treatments should be met with suspicion if you fear you may need such treatment in future.
Pre-existing conditions may also be excluded, so that insurers can save money on expensive treatments that the patient knew they would require. This highlights the need for dental insurance before major problems arise.
Waiting periods
Insurance plans generally stipulate waiting periods between the date you sign onto the plan and the date you are eligible for certain coverage. This is unlikely to be linked with checkups and preventative care, which should be covered from the start, but corrections such as fillings, bridges, orthodontics, and fixing chipped teeth might not be covered immediately. One of the reasons for this is to discourage people from simply covering themselves for a single procedure.
Next steps
Consider all of the factors above, and search for a plan appropriate for your needs. You should purchase decent coverage that does not threaten to adversely affect your finances. Good quality may not be cheap, however. If you already have health insurance, your provider might offer a discounted dental plan in combination with your existing insurance.