| The first question that you may want to ask | | | | then you probably won't be totally covered. You'll |
| here is "what exactly are dental discount cards?" | | | | still be responsible for making your premium |
| Well, dental discount cards or discount dental | | | | payments each month AND you'll have to pay |
| cards, as some people call them, are an | | | | your annual deductible before your insurance will |
| alternative dental plan other than traditional dental | | | | pay one cent for your care. Most things like |
| insurance. The card allows you to receive | | | | cleanings, flouride treatments, x-rays and general |
| substantial discounts off of the regular cost of | | | | maintenance work will be covered immediately |
| dental care. You simply join one of these plans, | | | | AFTER you pay your deductible. Also, dental |
| receive your card within one to three business | | | | insurance plans can cost as much as $100.00 per |
| days and then you can visit any dentist within the | | | | month for a family of four and that is simply out |
| network of the plan. You can receive savings of | | | | of the price range of most people. This is why |
| anywhere from 10-60%, depending on the plan. | | | | only three out of ten people in the United States |
| You're probably wondering how this is a benefit to | | | | have any type of dental care. They simply can't |
| you, especially if it isn't dental insurance. Am I | | | | afford it. |
| right? Let me do a brief comparison of the two, | | | | Dental discount plans are just what they say they |
| after which, I'll direct you to where you can get all | | | | are. You have a group of dentists that have |
| of your questions answered. Fair enough? All right | | | | joined a discount dental plan network and agreed |
| then. | | | | to perform dental procedures for substantial |
| Dental insurance used to be relatively easy to get | | | | discounts, as long as the treatment is paid for in |
| and was quite affordable. Our parents had the | | | | full at the time of the visit. Now, you might be |
| advantage of working a job for 20-30 years, | | | | thinking, "pay at the time of the visit? Won't that |
| getting retirement pension and were provided all | | | | be expensive?" It might be, depending on what |
| of their necessary needs while they were | | | | you need to have done. Let's use the root canal |
| employed such as medical and dental insurance. | | | | example above. The dental insurance won't cover |
| Unfortunately, those days are over. 20-30 year | | | | you until you've gone through their waiting period. |
| retirement plans are a rare commodity these | | | | Your only other option is to visit the dentist and |
| days and most employers simply can't afford to | | | | pay full price. Well, with a discount plan you could |
| provide medical coverage for their employees, let | | | | have up to 60% of the fee eliminated. You were |
| alone dental insurance. This leaves you with the | | | | going to pay full price before or continue to suffer |
| option of either paying full price at the dentist | | | | with the pain. Is it expensive? Well, root canals |
| office or buying private dental insurance. | | | | are not cheap, but they're a heck of a lot less |
| Honestly, dental insurance these days isn't what it | | | | expensive with the discount card. Also, all |
| used to be. There are waiting periods of | | | | pre-existing conditions can be taken care of, there |
| anywhere from six months to two years on | | | | are no age limits, etc. |
| pre-existing conditions. This means that if you | | | | Before you go and spend money on dental |
| have a bad tooth that needs a root canal | | | | insurance, either for an individual, group or family |
| (example) you may have to wait 6-24 months | | | | plan, I highly recommend that you look into what |
| before your insurance coverage kicks in. Even | | | | the dental discount card plans have to offer. |