Dental Insurance vs. Dental Discount Plans: Which Should You Choose?

As a money-savvy individual, you may always be looking for ways to save on essential services, such as oral healthcare. Either dental insurance or a dental discount plan could help you do that — but which one is better? The answer really depends on your personal needs. This blog post explains the pros and cons of each option; hopefully, it will help you make a wise decision about how to save money on a healthier smile.

Dental Insurance

If you purchase a PPO dental insurance plan, you may get to enjoy the following benefits:

• Preventive care is likely to be 100% covered.
• Restorative services, such as fillings and crowns, may be 50 – 80% covered.
• You can use your insurance at virtually any dental practice, regardless of whether they are in your plan’s network.

A few potential downsides of dental insurance include:

• There may be a waiting period of 6 – 12 months before you can receive coverage for restorative services.
• Your plan is likely to have an annual maximum (a yearly limit on how much your insurance company will pay for approved services).
• Cosmetic services and some advanced procedures may not be covered at all.

Dental Discount Plans

Many dental discount plans come with the following perks:

• Preventive care is usually included at no extra cost.
• You can enjoy a discount on virtually all other services, including those that are not commonly covered by traditional insurance.
• There are no waiting periods or annual maximums.
• Discount plans often cost less than dental insurance.

Of course, dental discount plans also have some potential drawbacks:

• You are likely to pay more out of pocket for restorative care than you would with dental insurance.
• You are limited in where you can use your discount (some discount plans are specific to a single dental practice).

Which Is Best for You?

Neither dental insurance nor a dental discount plan is necessarily “better” than the other. After all, different people have differing needs. Insurance might be ideal for you if you travel frequently, or if you know you will need some restorative care for your smile. A discount plan is often best for individuals who are looking to maintain their already excellent oral health or who are interested in cosmetic procedures.

Be sure to take a close look at the details of any insurance policies or discount plans that are available to you. Hopefully, you will make a choice that you feel confident about!

Meet the Practice

Wellesley Dental Group is home to an expansive team of general dentists and specialists. Together, they provide a comprehensive range of oral health services for families in our community. Our practice welcomes dental insurance, and we participate in the Essential Dental discount plan. To learn more about how we might be able to help you save money on a healthy smile, contact our office at 781-691-4914.