Thursday, September 10, 2009

What You Did Not Know About Supplemental Dental Insurance

By Matt Smith

Do you think you know anything about Supplemental dental insurance? Don't worry, most people assume that employees are covered for dental care with their medical coverage; however, that is not a fact. Dental insurance at work takes care of preventive care, such as annual cleaning, prophylactics, x-rays. But, if you have major teeth problems, your health coverage or dental insurance does not cover this.

This is where supplemental dental insurance is most needed. In reality, dental insurance is expensive and can be costly to fix problems. Dental insurance by itself is cheap, because the idea is that teeth problems are preventable with good hygiene, and expensive coverages are not necessary.

The cost of crowns, bridges, endodontics, disease related to the root of the teeth and periodontics, condition effecting the gums can be expensive, and thus supplemental dental insurance is necessary.

Supplemental dental insurance is quite cheap. Finding an insurance plan that covers supplemental dental insurance is easy, but you must request it. Don't assume it's available. Most companies offer supplemental dental insurance, and if so, take advantage of the opportunity.

Most national carriers offer supplemental dental insurance. The type of supplemental dental insurance that does allow picking of your own dentist is called "open panel". Picking from a pre-selected risk is often called a "closed panel". You are often required to choose a dentist this way.

There are two kinds of closed panel supplemental dental insurance plans. The first closed panel is termed the Preferred Provider Organization (PPO). PPO options have lower premiums if you choose from a pre-selected list.

Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO) is the second option within a supplemental dental insurance plan that restricts your choice of dentist. Dental problems that are true emergencies are treated by any dentist and often are covered by the supplemental dental insurance coverage.

There a few options to pay for coverage, either percentage of services, or prepaying for the treatment in advance. Another option is to pay for the treatment after the treatment is completed.

Payment options for supplemental dental insurance are no deterrence for the possibilities of having coverage for dental problems that may occur.

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