Finding Low Cost Dental Coverage

By Sally Delacruz


Full-time employees of companies are given the chance to get health coverage, including dental, usually at a reasonable cost. Freelancers, part-time employees and contractors generally don't have this privilege. That doesn't meant that they can't get low cost dental coverage for themselves. It just means they will have to know a few things to find the best and most affordable plan for them.

Depending on your life situation, you may need a individual or a family plan, which are the two main types of coverage. Anyone who is single and has no dependents will go for an individual plan. If you have children, even if you don't have a spouse, a family plan is appropriate for you. If you are currently single but later have a child, you should be able to easily upgrade to a family plan, though your monthly premium will go up as well.

Though family and individual plans cover the two basic types of coverage, each plan offered by various companies is very different from each other. Some are very basic and only cover some dental work or checkups, while others are much more complete plans that cover everything. Based on your dental health, you will have to choose which one you want.

When looking for affordable coverage, remember to look at the deductibles and limits. Deductibles are the amount you pay up front before the insurance kicks in and pays the rest. The cheaper your monthly premium, the more likely you are to have a higher deductible. For example, your plan may only cost you $20 per month, which is very affordable. However, you could have a $1000 deductible, which means the first thousand dollars in fees are paid by you, making this plan not quite as affordable. Consider paying a higher monthly premium to get a smaller deductible.

Limits are yearly and lifetime maximums that the insurance company will pay. For example, the plan may only pay $50,000 a year, which means if you need procedures beyond that amount in a given year, you may have to either pay out of pocket or wait till the next year when a fresh plan kicks in. Always check the limits and make sure they are agreeable to you.

Oral surgery and orthodontics are an important part of your dental health, but they aren't covered in every policy. Check the fine print and make sure that both are covered, or else you could find yourself paying out of pocket should you need oral surgery or if you or a child need braces.

Each plan should also include some preventative care procedures that are either mostly paid by insurance or completely paid. This includes x-rays to see if there are any problems underneath the surface and yearly or twice yearly cleanings to help prevent plaque and other potential issues.

No matter what your age or family situation, finding an affordable dental plan is easy. Set a budget, do some shopping, and always read the fine print to see what is covered so there are no surprises later. This will save you time and money later on down the line, and ensure good dental health.




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