Do I need dental insurance?

There is no secret that dental work is costly and out-of-pocket expenses can seem extremely daunting. So, this begs the question, “Should I get dental insurance?” The answer truly depends on you and you alone. Some dental plans (if not covered by your job) may seem unnecessary and may not fit your individual needs but can be rewarding if you find yourself needing a costly dental procedure. On the other hand, many cosmetic dental procedures aren’t covered by dental insurance at all. Therefore, before purchasing dental insurance, make sure you weigh your options before spending too much money on dental insurance or too much money without it.

Let’s weigh your options. Keep in mind, all dental insurance plans are different and many high performing dentists are likely to be out-of-network. This is due in part because the higher the demand for the dentist, the higher quality of care they provide. This isn’t to say all high quality performing dentists will be out of your network but some might. 

If your need for dental insurance is to save money on bi-yearly checkups and cleanings you may not need dental insurance at all. However, if you need a root canal, a crown, fillings, (etc.) you may want to consider dental insurance, but it still depends. Tricky right? I know.

Unfortunately, your insurance may not be as helpful as you’d expect. Some dental insurance plans have low annual maximums of around $1,000. But once your bill exceeds $1,000 you may be stuck paying the rest out-of-pocket anyway. While you may be able to negotiate fee work, that could only take you so far. For example, if a dentist’s regular fee for a crown is $500 and you negotiate the fee to be $450, your annual fee for dental insurance may only use a fraction of your large dental-work bill. Therefore, you are still left paying $600 premiums for insurance and that still doesn’t guarantee full coverage.

Like many health insurance companies, dental insurance rarely covers elective dental procedures including orthodontics and cosmetic dentistry. Make sure you know what you want before purchasing dental insurance- what you want might not be covered.

If you are thinking you’ll just hold out on purchasing dental insurance when you need it, think again. When purchasing dental insurance, many insurance companies have a waiting period where major dental procedures won’t be covered for one year after purchase. However, when the dentist says you need a root canal immediately, waiting a year to have your insurance cover it will only lead to more dental issues down the road. If you wait to get a root canal (for example) bacteria will build up, leading to infection and can spread to other parts of the mouth. This puts you (the patient) at risk for serious dental problems and other medical conditions later on. NoBull Dental’s advice is to either not get insurance and risk paying costly out-of-pocket prices for dental procedures (like a root canal), or purchase dental insurance as a “just in case” scenario and understand that you may be paying more than you need to. 

Either way, visiting the dentist is extremely important. Yes, this means going to your bi-yearly checkups and not skipping them. Visiting the dentist is preventative treatment. The more you go regularly, the more you take care of your oral health and the more you listen to your dental providers, the healthier you will be in the long run. If you are unsure about your dentist, looking for a new dentist, or require a second opinion, contact a NoBull Dental dentist today to get you started on the right path for better oral health.