Getting More Affordable Dental Care
Dental care can really take a bite out of your wallet and your family budget. Even if you have insurance (and just over half of people do) says the National Association of Dental Plans. The typical co-insurance is only 50% on major procedures such as root canals, bridges, and crowns, which run $750 and up.
Here's how to manage those costs so that you don't end up putting too much money where your mouth is.
1. Don't buy dental insurance just to be covered. Monthly dental insurance premiums are not too expensive at about $97 per family. However, benefits are usually capped at around $1,000 a person.
So if you don't already have coverage, make sure you check premiums and out-of-pocket costs and compare them with your past and potential future usage. Most dental needs are can be predicted. You can ask your dentist what you might need to be done this year. If this looks like a year of cleanings only, then maybe it's not worth it to buy insurance.
However, if you've gone through several root canals and crowns, then dental insurance is a good buy.
2. Prevention is the key. Go for regular checkups. They cost a few hundred dollars a year, but they prevent more expensive procedures along the way.
3. Look for discounts. Think about signing up for a dental discount program. They will get you 10% to 60% off care within a few days of signing up. They cost about $80 to $160 a year for singles, $130 to $200 for families.
Make sure you you don't run into some fly-by-night operation. Don't just base your purchase on an ad. Call the dentist's office. Ask them about plans they accept. Weigh costs against discounts.
4. Ask about temporary procedures. If you have maxed out your insurance benefit this year, ask for temporary steps that will get you through until next year.
So are you and your family have dental plans?