Looking for dental insurance

[happybratpack]

Mornin'

I don't have dental insurance through work, we just have some supplemental free coverage that doesn't do much. I need to find dental not only for me, but for Lily when she gets here - I'm hearing some dental stories coming out of her orphanage and I wanted to make sure she was covered.

Anyhooo...I have no idea where to look. Any ideas?

Thanks!

 

[AllyandJack]

Try www.deltadental.com and www.bcbs.com (Blue Cross). Depending on where you live, you can buy coverage. It all depends on your state though....some states don't allow them to sell direct-pay policies or they don't offer direct-pay in those states for a variety of reasons. You might also want to start with your health insurance carrier to see if they offer dental plans and if they have a direct-pay option.

Congrats on your adoption!

 

[stm61]

we don't have dental either. I found a local dental office that has their own insurance. Actually they're a chain, Eastern Dental, and all their offices do this. I think the policy is thru Horizan BCBS. I think some other large offices do this also. They're not the greatest dentists and have a huge problem with employee turnover but, when the only alternative is no insurance at all, they're better then nothing. The price is good for kids, about $68 per yr for kids. Adults is much high, over $200.

 

[rascalmom]

Dental insurance as an employee benefit is fine & usually cost effective, particularly if the employer contributes a portion of the premium. Individual & independent family policies are rarely worthwhile - what is covered is so minimal that you rarely come out ahead by the time you pay the premium co-payments & the deductible. Keep in mind that most policies have a maximum coverage amount of either $1000 or $1500 per year. If you are anticipating major work - crowns, bridgework, etc. - there are often exclusions until you have carried the policy for a year. Missing tooth clauses often exclude any treatment to replace a tooth that was missing before the effective date of the policy. Read the fine print before you make the decision - you may be better off just self-funding any needed treatment. The best available would probably be Delta Dental. Most good dental offices will offer some type of interest-free financing plan these days.

 

[Dan Murphy]

What rascalmom said.

 

[bettyann29]

Dental insurance as an employee benefit is fine & usually cost effective, particularly if the employer contributes a portion of the premium. Individual & independent family policies are rarely worthwhile - what is covered is so minimal that you rarely come out ahead by the time you pay the premium co-payments & the deductible. Keep in mind that most policies have a maximum coverage amount of either $1000 or $1500 per year. If you are anticipating major work - crowns, bridgework, etc. - there are often exclusions until you have carried the policy for a year. Missing tooth clauses often exclude any treatment to replace a tooth that was missing before the effective date of the policy. Read the fine print before you make the decision - you may be better off just self-funding any needed treatment. The best available would probably be Delta Dental. Most good dental offices will offer some type of interest-free financing plan these days.

also you will probably run into fee sched type dental plans when you are going at it on your own.. even some employer plans are this way.. there is a set list for dental procedures and the insurance company only pays a set $$ amt for each service you have.. usually way less than what the dentist bills.. leaving you to pay the balance on top of having deductibles, waiting periods, etc.. Just watch out what your buying so you aren't paying more between your premiums and your costs than what its worth.. I think sometimes people see the monthly premium and think its affordable not really knowing the plan they have..

 

[kelleigh1]

Definitely check your medical insurance coverage. You may find that your medical will provide preventive dental coverage for Lily. There are medical carriers which provide routine checkups for children up to a certain age.

 

[sweet angel]

I use DentalCall . I think it's about $120/year for my son and I. It doesn't cover a lot, but every little bit helps.