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.

Not all family or individual plans are created equal. Some have very bare bones coverage that only pays for certain treatments or doctor visits. Others are much more comprehensive and will include just about any kind of dental work imaginable. The bare bones are much cheaper than the comprehensive ones, so keep that in mind when choosing a plan.

During your research into various plans, two important things to consider are deductibles and limits. Deductibles are are the amount you must pay for your dental work before the insurance policy takes over to pay the rest or most of the rest. If it is high, like say $1000 dollars, then you may not be able to afford to use the plan. Pay a higher premium each month, and you will probably get a much lower deductible, which will balance out the higher monthly fee. The lower your monthly premium, the more likely you are to have a high deductible.

There may also be limits to how much the plan will cover each year, along with a lifetime maximum. Your plan may pay $100,000 per year, but with a lifetime maximum of $500,000 or something along those lines. Each plan is different, so make sure you check for the limits and maximums. If they are too low, you may want to look for another form of coverage.

Not all coverage includes surgeries and orthodontics, so be sure to read the fine print. This is especially true if you have kids, because many kids may need orthodontia like braces in order to straighten out their teeth. Surgeries, even minor ones like removal of wisdom teeth, can be quite expensive when paid out of pocket, so be sure you are covered.

Another important point to consider is the coverage for preventative care. Your policy should let you have at least yearly checkups, and yearly teeth cleanings as well. These help you avoid bigger dental problems down the line, so most insurers include them in each policy to save money. This is a win-win situation for you and the insurer, so take advantage of these each year.

Whether you are single or have a family, getting coverage for your dental health is a big deal. Decide how much you can spend each month on a policy and then go shopping for the one that covers the most in your price range. You will be well on your way to affordable and comprehensive care.




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