To get the best deal on dental insurance or a dental discount plan, ask the following questions:

For dental insurance:

What is the deductible?
Ask the insurer what amount you’ll have to pay out of pocket before coverage kicks. The amount can vary from insurer to insurer.

What percentage of costs does the policy cover?
Once your deductible has been met, what percentage of your dental charges will be covered? Or if it’s an HMO, ask about your co-pay.

Are there caps on payouts?
For example, up to how much will the policy pay on a crown and follow-up care?

Are there limits to visits?
Some insurers limit how many times a year you can visit the dentist for a cleaning or checkup. Be sure that the plan meets your needed schedule of care.

Are pre-existing conditions covered?
Ask about conditions in your dental records, not the ones you think do or don’t exist. Call your dentist’s office manager or assistant for a list.

Do favored dentists on your list have a specialty?
Make a list of dentists you’re considering in your area and see if their specialties match your conditions. For example some dentists are also periodonists, who specialize in the structure of teeth and problems that affect them, such as gum disease.

For dental-discount plans:

What are your discounts for care?
Ask about cleanings, X-rays, fillings, crowns and root canal. The discounts can vary from plan to plan.

In what situations would I not be covered?
Before making a decision, find out in which situations your expectations would not be met.

Are there limits to visits?
Some plans cap your number of annual visits for basic care.

Are you happy?
Ask the dentists you’re considering whether they are satisfied with the discount-plan company. You don’t want to develop a relationship with a dentist who is about to drop the plan.

What are the drawbacks?
Ask the dentist’s office manager whether there are constant patient complaint’s about the plan. The person most knowledgeable about a plan’s true benefits and drawbacks often is the individual who deals directly with the plan.

Want to Know More?

• What is Dental Insurance?
• Should You Buy Dental Insurance?
• How to Buy Dental Insurance