Many employers provide health insurance to workers, but generally do so only if the worker is a full-time employee. Part-time employees or those who work as a contractor or freelance may have to purchase their own low cost dental coverage instead. Just because a plan is low in cost doesn't mean that it should be shoddy coverage. Here is what you can expect from a plan, and what to look for.
There are two main types of dental coverage: family and individual. If you are single and not pregnant, then the individual plan is right for you. If you have a family, then the family plan is the one you want to go with. Keep in mind that you can always change from an individual to a family plan later if your situation changes, though your premiums will obviously go up.
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.
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.
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.
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.
There are two main types of dental coverage: family and individual. If you are single and not pregnant, then the individual plan is right for you. If you have a family, then the family plan is the one you want to go with. Keep in mind that you can always change from an individual to a family plan later if your situation changes, though your premiums will obviously go up.
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.
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.
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.
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.
