I chose a Medicare Advantage plan that includes some dental coverage. Mine covers up to $1,800 a year.
Holland said:
I chose a Medicare Advantage plan that includes some dental coverage. Mine covers up to $1,800 a year.
That’s fine if you’re okay with Medicare Advantage, but I prefer standard Medicare with a Medigap Plan G. No dental, but more flexibility. I checked out separate dental insurance, but it made more sense for me to just pay out of pocket.
My wife needed implants, and we ended up paying nearly $50,000. Medicare wouldn’t have covered much of that anyway, but sometimes it’s not an option. Her jawbone was deteriorating, so implants were the only choice.
Dental insurance has a low maximum payout, unlike medical insurance where once you hit your out-of-pocket max, the rest is covered. With dental, it’s easy to reach the limit. For me, it’s just not worth it.
It’s usually better to negotiate a cash deal. After you factor in premiums, copays, and other costs, you might find you’re paying more with insurance than without it.
NCD has a decent plan with a $10,000 limit, though it has a 3-year phase-in. Might be worth looking into if you plan ahead.
I’m on a Cigna plan for $24 a month, with $3,500 in annual coverage. It’s been really solid—two free cleanings a year with X-rays. There wasn’t even a waiting period since I already had coverage before.
@Finlo
I’m skeptical. Could you share more details about the policy?
@Finlo
Sure thing. It’s the Cigna 3500 plan, and I’m based in Georgia. Exactly what I mentioned: $24 a month, $3,500 coverage, no waiting period if you had previous insurance. It’s been great.
Finlo said:
@Finlo
Sure thing. It’s the Cigna 3500 plan, and I’m based in Georgia. Exactly what I mentioned: $24 a month, $3,500 coverage, no waiting period if you had previous insurance. It’s been great.
I looked it up. Cigna doesn’t offer dental insurance in all states, but it does exist. It’s not available where I live.
@Dolph
Guess it depends on where you are. I might still look into it, though.
Ty said:
@Finlo
I have this plan too. It’s really helped me save on big procedures, but note that if you don’t have previous coverage, you’ll have to wait for a bit before using it for major work.
Exactly, I had coverage before, so I didn’t have to wait.
My dentist broke it down for me: dental insurance coverage has gotten worse over the years. For example, in 1994, they allowed $200 for a filling, but today it’s down to $100. That’s why some dentists decide not to work with insurance and go ‘out of network.’ But the insurance companies try to scare patients away from those dentists, claiming it’ll be more expensive and the quality isn’t reliable. This has forced many dentists to stay in-network and cut corners, like using cheaper materials or rushing through procedures, which eventually leads to more issues for patients.
If a dentist tells you that you have several cavities, sometimes it’s just to make more money because insurance lets them bill for repeat work every two years. Sadly, this has led to a decline in the quality of dental care. I think patients should push for better standards and question both their dentists and their insurance plans. Personally, I think it’s better to save what you’d spend on premiums and use it for high-quality work at a trusted dentist.
@Zane
I agree with a lot of what you said, but I don’t think dentists are completely innocent here. If I need a crown or a root canal, it’s always $1,500, no matter where I go. That sounds like price fixing. Yes, they’ve got new tech to make things cheaper, but those savings aren’t passed down to customers. It’s a mess.
Not everyone can just fly to another country for cheaper dental care. It’s too expensive or too complicated for some of us.
San said:
Not everyone can just fly to another country for cheaper dental care. It’s too expensive or too complicated for some of us.
I get it. I’m just considering it for myself because of the cost differences.
@Lennon
A lot of people head to Mexico for this. It’s frustrating that prices are so high here.
San said:
@Lennon
A lot of people head to Mexico for this. It’s frustrating that prices are so high here.
Mexico can be a bit risky, though. I’m looking more at Costa Rica. But yeah, you do what you can.
San said:
@Lennon
A lot of people head to Mexico for this. It’s frustrating that prices are so high here.
I got two crowns done in Mexico this year for half of what I was quoted here. It was great, but I did my research to make sure I found a good clinic.
I just signed up for a new Delta Dental plan here in Massachusetts. It’s $56.87 a month, which comes to $682.44 annually. The max annual benefit is only $1,250, which isn’t great. I’m mostly breaking even on routine care, so I’m not sure if it’s worth it. If I need more work, it’s only about $650 in additional coverage.