I’m leaving my group plan this July and switching to a Medicare Plan G. I’ve been looking at dental insurance options, but I’m not sure if it’s really worth it. The quotes I got range from $50 to $95 a month, but most of these plans only cover basic stuff like cleanings, bitewing X-rays, and exams. Would it make more sense to just negotiate a cash deal with my dentist? For those basic services, insurance paid about $193. Any thoughts?
If you’re going to get dental insurance, do it sooner rather than later. Most plans cover routine cleanings, but you might have to wait 6 months for things like fillings and 12 months for crowns. We signed up for a discount program through our dentist. It’s $98 a month (or $1,176 a year) for two cleanings each and a 10% discount on everything else. I’m seriously considering just dropping the plan and putting the money into a high-yield savings account.
@West
Around here, cleanings usually run between $150 and $200. I don’t recall what X-rays cost, but they’re not super expensive. Major dental work costs more, but it’s not something I need every year. I just pay out of pocket and have a dentist I trust. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of upselling in dentistry these days.
I find it pretty useless. Insurance companies make money by charging you more than they expect you to use. I’m fine with that when it comes to home or medical insurance—things I hope not to use much but still need. For dental, though? I’d rather save my money and cover it myself.
@Hadi
Agreed. We’re on ACA now, so we just cover dental costs ourselves. We’ve had plenty of crowns over the years, but none of it would’ve been covered much anyway. I expect my husband to rack up some dental bills eventually, but insurance won’t help with that.
Look into the maximum coverage on the policies you’re considering and see what’s covered for things like fillings, crowns, and root canals. If they don’t cover major work, you might still benefit from the insurance’s negotiated rates. Compare that to what your dentist would charge for cash payments, and see what makes more sense. If they do cover major work, then it’s more of a gamble on what you might need each year.
It’s a mixed bag. My wife and I pay about $95 a month for our plan. We saved quite a bit on a crown because of the 50% coverage. As we get older, there’s more likelihood of needing bigger dental work, so I feel like it’s worth it. But it may not be the same for everyone. I’m not a big fan of insurance, but I try to minimize it where I can.
I don’t have dental insurance, but I do have decent teeth. I get my cleanings done at a dental hygienist school. They even do X-rays, and it’s all free. It takes a while because an instructor has to approve each step, but the cleanings are really thorough. They also keep track of gum health.
I pay for a concierge service through my dentist. It’s a flat monthly fee, and I get a certain number of cleanings each year plus a 15% discount on all services. My previous corporate insurance only covered about $1,000 a year. When I retired, I wanted to stick with my dentist, but she doesn’t accept any of the Medicare Advantage dental plans.
Honestly, I’d pass on it. Back when I worked for a health insurance company, we used to call dental plans ‘dollar swapping.’
Some of the answers here are making me laugh. While dental coverage isn’t what it used to be, it still has its benefits. Sure, you’re taking on the risk if you don’t get coverage, but the goal is to make your money work for you. For example, if you pay $50 a month for a plan that covers 100% of your routine cleanings and X-rays, you’re probably getting more value than what you’re paying. It’s when you need something like an implant that the coverage can really help, even if they only pay a portion of it.
@Frost
I have to disagree, especially about implants. Every dental plan I’ve seen over the past 30 years, whether through work or private, has an annual cap of $1,000 or $1,500. You have to be on the plan for a few years to get full coverage, and even then, it’s usually not enough to cover major work. I recently had to get a tooth extracted, and the costs added up quickly. Most of it wasn’t covered. Be careful what you’re promising.
@Lennon
Exactly. The annual maximum is what you need to focus on because that’s the most the plan will pay out.
I’d avoid Delta Dental. Just look up the lawsuits against them. I had a bad experience where they changed my plan without my consent, and it led to a mess with my dentist. It’s been a nightmare trying to get it sorted out. Be careful with them.
@Payton
Thanks for the heads-up. Do you have any recommendations for other companies?
Preventative coverage can be useful, but if you think you might need major work, keep in mind that some plans have waiting periods of up to 12 months before they cover anything beyond cleanings. It might be worth getting coverage earlier if you know you’ll need it down the line.
@Parker
Even if you have coverage, you still need to be able to afford your part of the bill. Dental care here can be really expensive.
San said:
@Parker
Even if you have coverage, you still need to be able to afford your part of the bill. Dental care here can be really expensive.
I’m on the east coast, but I’ve been looking into getting dental work done in Costa Rica. It’s much cheaper, and I can make a vacation out of it. For example, I was quoted $12,000 for two implants here, but I could get them done for less than $6,000 over there, including travel.
I don’t bother with dental insurance anymore. It didn’t cover the types of services I needed, and I was always paying out of pocket. Now I just pay cash, and my dentist offers a discount plan that saves me a lot.
I haven’t gotten dental insurance either because the coverage is so poor. My dentist offers two cleanings and X-rays for $300 a year, plus a 10% discount on other services. I’m also looking at a $150 annual dental discount card that brings the prices down to insurance rates. My daughter used one before a root canal, and it saved her over $500. Just be sure to go directly to the insurer’s website if you decide to get one.