Dental Preferred Provider Organization
A dental preferred provider organization (DPPO) plan is one of the most common types of dental insurance. Innumerable people receive coverage on DPPO plans through their place of employment, although many other individuals pay fully for their own coverage.
Preferred Provider Networks
DPPOs are organized around the principle of ‘preferred providers.’ These are dentists and facilities preferred by the insurance company because they are beholden to treat members of the DPPO. This is ideal for the dentists as their flow of customers is increased through association with the network, and as a consequence they can afford to give discounts to the insurers and patients. If you elect to use dentists from within this network, your costs will be lower because the insurer pays a large portion of the fees.
Freedom of Choice
In DPPOs, the word ‘preferred’ is also important as it suggests the freedom of choice available within the plan. The insurer wants its customers to use dentists within their network as this means they can receive the discounts offered by those facilities. However, in contrast to DHMOs, which pay nothing toward a patient’s treatment if they go outside the network, a DPPO gives you the flexibility to see any dentist. You will likely have to pay more of the costs than with in-network professionals, but your policy still covers you to an extent.
Financial Costs
Members pay a monthly premium which is higher than DHMO premiums, and usually a yearly deductible which is the amount the patient is required to pay toward their treatment before the insurer contributes. The deductibles are generally small, i.e. between $25 and $50, but these can still become significant costs when covering a large family every year.
Advantages
The freedom of choice in dentists is one of the plan’s most striking advantages, with no restrictions on which professionals you can visit. In addition to this choice, you can make greater savings by choosing treatment with in-network dentists. Affordability is also addressed with the deductibles, which are low where present, and sometimes not needed at all. Many dentists agree that their payments are calculated and paid quickly with DPPOs, so that more dentists sign up to the networks ready to treat members. For basic care and preventative measures, waiting time is often nonexistent. You may also be spared lengthy paperwork, through the use of an insurance card.
Disadvantages
Although DPPOs present impressive flexibility, they can be restrictive in other ways. Dentists in some plans are allowed to turn away patients if the cost to the dentist is estimated to be more than they would receive for treating the patient. This can be inconvenient, with treatment denied indefinitely in certain cases. It is also true that choosing out-of-network dentists can be financially problematic, as patients often have to pay more, lose some of their benefits, and can even be required to pay higher premiums. Read through any prospective plan carefully, as some companies only offer $1000 of coverage per year, which will not pay for most services. DPPOs are more expensive than DHMOs, and you must decide whether the benefits justify paying more.