Dental Insurance, Is it a rip off?

1970FuryConv

1970FuryConv

Old Man with a Hat
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Okay right now I have a Renaissance dental insurance program that costs me $462 per year.
I have a check up every 6 months. The first dental check up costs $120 and includes cleaning and examination. The 2nd costs $180 and includes cleaning, examination, and x-rays.
My dental insurance picks up half the cost of these appointments for a total payout of $150 per year.
My dental insurance also has a max payout of $1000 per year for me, so $850 is the highest amount that it will pay of any treatments besides my cleaning, examinations, and x-rays. Generally it pays 50%
Basically, I'm spending $462 less $150 = $312 per year for access to this $850 50% payment pot, which I never seem to use because my dental expenses above exam, cleaning, and xrays never get anywhere close to $1700, the amount required to spend the entire $850.
Further, every 3 years I payout 3 x $312 = $936 which is more than this $850 partial payment pot.
My question is: does anyone think dental insurance is a rip off?
Are there any better deals out there that an individual - with no dental coverage thru work - can buy?
 
1970FuryConv said:
Okay right now I have a Renaissance dental insurance program that costs me $462 per year.
I have a check up every 6 months. The first dental check up costs $120 and includes cleaning and examination. The 2nd costs $180 and includes cleaning, examination, and x-rays.
My dental insurance picks up half the cost of these appointments for a total payout of $150 per year.
My dental insurance also has a max payout of $1000 per year for me, so $850 is the highest amount that it will pay of any treatments besides my cleaning, examinations, and x-rays. Generally it pays 50%
Basically, I'm spending $462 less $150 = $312 per year for access to this $850 50% payment pot, which I never seem to use because my dental expenses above exam, cleaning, and xrays never get anywhere close to $1700, the amount required to spend the entire $850.
Further, every 3 years I payout 3 x $312 = $936 which is more than this $850 partial payment pot.
My question is: does anyone think dental insurance is a rip off?
Are there any better deals out there that an individual - with no dental coverage thru work - can buy?
Click to expand...

go shopping
 
I've looked into dental plans and had an option thru my employer, when I was still working. I didn't think the coverages were worth the expense (most have 75 to 80% coverages but some proceedures or maintenance is higher co-pays) If your still working, check into a HSA or HRA. I have a savings acct set up for dental and small medical expenses not covered or to pay the deductables. Good luck!
 
@1970FuryConv, you should take the advice of @dart4forte, and go shopping.

Your plan doesn’t offer the benefit level I would consider if I were buying my own coverage, but the individual dental plans offered in Virginia may be different when compared to Illinois plans.

I’ll outline some points you should look for when shopping for a new plan…

Dental plans typically have 3 coverage levels: “A” Preventative, “B” Minor Restorative and “C” Major Restorative. Most plans include a deductible for the individual, and then 2 or 3 times that deductible for family dental coverage, usually ranging $50 for an individual/$150 family for the deductible. Most plans in Illinois have $1000, $1500 and $2000 annual plan year maximums, so your plan annual max in not unusual.

“A” usually has 100% coverage with no deductible cost or other cost benefit for the plan participant with the exception of maybe the visit copay, and include 2 annual cleanings which are not subject to the deductible. Plans do vary, but “A” coverage usually includes the cleanings, oral exam, and some x-rays. If you’re pay $120 and then $180 for cleanings on your 2nd visit, I understand why you feel it’s a rip off.

“B” coverage is your Basic Coverage usually pays for 80% of the cost, including fillings, extractions, general anesthesia. Periodontics (treatment for gum disease) and Endodontics (treatment for disease of soft tissue inside the tooth) sometimes are in the “B” benefit level, and would cause the premium with P&D in the “B” level to be more costly.

“C” coverage is for Major Coverage usually pays 50% of the cost, which include root canals, crowns and dentures typically.
The deductibles usually applies to Coverages “B”, “C”.

Then there’s Coverage “D”, which is for orthodontia (braces) Most plans with “D” only cover children up to age 18. The deductible will apply here too.

The cost of $462 for your dental plan is probably the annual premium, that does seem high for individual coverage, for what you're getting. Since your company doesn’t offer a dental plan, you should ask your employer to bring in a company that offers voluntary benefits (employee paid) such as Aflac, Colonial, Sun Life UNUM etc. which could offer a better option to your dental plan to choose from. The employee pays 100% of the monthly premium cost through the employer plan, and it is done through a payroll deduction from your paycheck. Additionally, since this would be considered a “group” plan the insurance carrier rates are usually lower because they expect to have more than 1 person sign up for coverage.

Good luck on your search. Shopping for any insurance is not a fun task.
 
Where I work they offered a "dental" coverage that employees could elect to buy into. When I sat down and ran the numbers for our family of 6 was not a good deal for us. As mentioned above I'm able to put pretax monies into an HSA that can be used to cover eye, dental, deductibles and copays. This has worked very well for us. The only time I had dental insurance was when my wife worked for the local school. That was gravy coverage. I won't rant on how good state employee have it because they are bankrupting our state.
 
I just retired and had Delta Dental Insurance. It costs $350 a year. Where I go they are part of this Insurance which I can get. You need to know your costs and percentages they will pay for plus policy maximums. For me this new company is about the same money buy pays significantly higher percentages an has a higher yearly maximum. Do your homework and be empowered. My plan will be the platinum one which covers the most and apples to apples to Delta. Your state will differ.

Find Your Dental Insurance Plan | CarePlus Dental Plans Wisconsin
 
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Screw the dentists...(sorry doc) :(

Oh, and plus per advise from some very important talking head on the Robin Meade show, drink everything through a straw. (do away with that stoopid torturous cleaning bit)
 
sixpkrt said:
@1970FuryConv, you should take the advice of @dart4forte, and go shopping.

Your plan doesn’t offer the benefit level I would consider if I were buying my own coverage, but the individual dental plans offered in Virginia may be different when compared to Illinois plans.

I’ll outline some points you should look for when shopping for a new plan…

Dental plans typically have 3 coverage levels: “A” Preventative, “B” Minor Restorative and “C” Major Restorative. Most plans include a deductible for the individual, and then 2 or 3 times that deductible for family dental coverage, usually ranging $50 for an individual/$150 family for the deductible. Most plans in Illinois have $1000, $1500 and $2000 annual plan year maximums, so your plan annual max in not unusual.

“A” usually has 100% coverage with no deductible cost or other cost benefit for the plan participant with the exception of maybe the visit copay, and include 2 annual cleanings which are not subject to the deductible. Plans do vary, but “A” coverage usually includes the cleanings, oral exam, and some x-rays. If you’re pay $120 and then $180 for cleanings on your 2nd visit, I understand why you feel it’s a rip off.

“B” coverage is your Basic Coverage usually pays for 80% of the cost, including fillings, extractions, general anesthesia. Periodontics (treatment for gum disease) and Endodontics (treatment for disease of soft tissue inside the tooth) sometimes are in the “B” benefit level, and would cause the premium with P&D in the “B” level to be more costly.

“C” coverage is for Major Coverage usually pays 50% of the cost, which include root canals, crowns and dentures typically.
The deductibles usually applies to Coverages “B”, “C”.

Then there’s Coverage “D”, which is for orthodontia (braces) Most plans with “D” only cover children up to age 18. The deductible will apply here too.

The cost of $462 for your dental plan is probably the annual premium, that does seem high for individual coverage, for what you're getting. Since your company doesn’t offer a dental plan, you should ask your employer to bring in a company that offers voluntary benefits (employee paid) such as Aflac, Colonial, Sun Life UNUM etc. which could offer a better option to your dental plan to choose from. The employee pays 100% of the monthly premium cost through the employer plan, and it is done through a payroll deduction from your paycheck. Additionally, since this would be considered a “group” plan the insurance carrier rates are usually lower because they expect to have more than 1 person sign up for coverage.

Good luck on your search. Shopping for any insurance is not a fun task.
Click to expand...

Thanks for all the good information and insight! That explains coverages in depth and very well!!
 
Pete Kaczmarski said:
My plan will be the platinum one
Click to expand...

That looks like a really good plan. I noticed there are no waiting periods or pre-existing clauses. Not a bad monthly cost either IMO.
A lot of dental plans put a waiting period as much as up to 12 months for certain coverages, usually in the "C" & "D" levels, for higher cost dental services like crowns, bridges etc. for someone signing up for coverage for the first time.
If you're replacing coverage, this shouldn't apply. Always ask or read the fine print before deciding.
 
I'm retired military and I have FEDVIP. It's a government plan and its $53.95 a month. And it covers quite a bit. I get 4 cleanings a year. There isn't any deductibles that I have to pay or any co-pays yet. If I needed a crown I would have pay something. How much I don't know.
 
Have the people at FEDVIP send you the dental cert book (Certificate of Coverage). It might be online if there's a website, but you'd probably need to register onto the site to see your benefits. Most places don't publish the benefits offered in a public format on the internet. I'm sure the military is the same.
 
sixpkrt said:
Have the people at FEDVIP send you the dental cert book (Certificate of Coverage). It might be online if there's a website, but you'd probably need to register onto the site to see your benefits. Most places don't publish the benefits offered in a public format on the internet. I'm sure the military is the same.
Click to expand...

They gave me a website to look up to see the plan benefits.
 
Pay cash at dentist and it will be less than what the next person with insurance pays. If not get out of that corporate dentist office.

There is always a cash discount.
 
Wondering how long it would take Doc to chime in. And surprisingly he said about what I expected. Nothing like self promotion.....
:rofl:
 
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