.

Types of Dental Plans - What are the Different Types of Dental Plans

There are several different types of dental plans available but they break down into three different categories ‚- including traditional indemnity dental insurance, managed dental plans and discount dental plans.

Traditional Indemnity Dental Insurance

Traditional dental insurance plans are what many people are most familiar with when it comes to dental care. This type of dental plan coverage includes payment of monthly premiums and payment of an annual deductible. Very often, dental insurance provided through an employer is a traditional indemnity plan.

The disadvantages of traditional indemnity dental insurance are substantial. Very often, these types of dental plans require a waiting period for treatment of pre-existing conditions and acceptance requires completion of a health history form. Additional disadvantages include frequent limitations on the reimbursement rates for routine dental care . Plus, many procedures such as cosmetic dentistry or orthodontic services are not covered.

Managed Dental Plans

Managed dental plans are similar to traditional indemnity plans. As in the overall coverage of health care services, insurance companies have turned more and more toward managing dental services as a method of reducing dental care costs.

Managed dental plans may be known as DHMA ( dental health maintenance plans ) plans, PPO (participating provider organization) dental plans or POS (point of service) dental plans. With these types of dental plans, a list of participating dentists is provided and members are required to pay co-pay for services. Generally, members pay more for services provided by dentists outside of the provider network, or may not receive any coverage at all for going outside the provider network, depending on the plan provisions.

Discount Dental Plans

Discount dental plans are plans that are not insurance at all. These plans are paid on an annual flat-rate basis and generally cover a wider range of dental care services than either a traditional dental insurance plan or a managed dental plan. Examples include cosmetic dentistry and orthodontic services, such as braces , veneers, teeth whitening or dental implants.

Many people find that dental discount plans offer them the ability to choose a dentist who meets their needs in a way that is much more cost efficient than dental insurance. Providers who are part of a discount network agree to a negotiated rate for their services. Providers often charge only the discounted rate when a member shows their membership card and identification. Payment is made directly to the dentist and there is no need to submit claim forms for reimbursement.

One of the other advantages of discount dental plans is that they are also useful as a supplement for services not covered by an employer-sponsored traditional dental insurance plan . Another advantage that is often overlooked is that discount dental plans also frequently offer discounts for other health care services such as vision care, alternative health care such as acupuncture, chiropractic and other services.

Summary

There are many different types of dental plans available today. While many people are familiar with the traditional indemnity dental insurance plan, newer approaches to dental care include the managed dental plan and discount dental plans.