As much as we might hope to buy coverage in a pinch, insurance companies are smarter than that. They might cover exams and X-rays immediately, but fillings and oral surgery usually require a one- to two-year wait.

Instead, the reader bought into a discount network and saved about $800 after purchasing an individual membership for $100 a year. The waiting period before her benefits kicked in? Three days.

It’s called a discount dental plan and it’s similar to buying a membership at Costco or Sam’s Club. For the price of your annual membership, you get the benefit of paying lower prices on the products or services offered.

The dentists who participate in the program agree to accept a discounted fee from the plan as payment in full for their services. For example, a white filling is typically $173, but discount plan members pay $51 to $116, depending on the plan. A crown is typically $1,200, but members pay $473 to $1,000.

Annual membership fees range from $80 to $160 for an individual and $130 to $200 for a family.

One of the best ways to shop for a plan is at www.dentalplans.com. It has aggregated plans from more than 30 companies, including Aetna and Cigna. After putting in a ZIP code, you can find dentists in your area who accept the plans and what the discounted rates are for fillings, crowns, root canals and dentures.

Most people have never heard of the discount plans, probably because nearly 70 percent of Minnesotans have dental insurance, said Loren Hanson, director of marketplace activities at the Minnesota Dental Association in Minneapolis.

But even those with insurance might want to consider a dental plan if they have some unexpected big bills. Dental insurance typically has a maximum benefit per year of $1,000 to $1,200. Anyone who has already met the annual maximum and develops a new toothache is unlikely to wait until January to get it fixed.

Hanson said the MDA has had few complaints about the discount dental plans but says many patients will find that their dentist doesn’t offer the discounts. About 10 percent of dentists in the Twin Cities offer them, he said.

Dental plans have a 30-day cancellation policy and no waiting periods, deductibles or maximums. Orthodontia and cosmetic procedures are included in some plans. DentalPlans.com is offering a 10 percent discount with the code “July10,” but when I called several months ago I was offered a 20 percent discount after I balked about joining. Call 1-888-632-5353 or visit the website.

	MyDentalWebsite.com
	Enter your ZIP code to view plan details, savings information and participating dentists for all available discount dental plans in your area.
	The most dentists in combined networks ANYWHERE! Join a plan online instantly No claim forms or deductibles
				With the rising costs of dental care, finding ways to save money becomes more and more important. A great way to save money on these procedures is with the use of a discount dental plan. It's fast and easy, and you can save on all of your dental care needs! You have the freedom to choose from many quality discount dental plans. There is sure to be a plan to fit your needs and the needs of your family. There are no sign up fees, no claim forms and no deductibles. Join online instantly and start saving today!

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 21st, 2010 at 4:22 am and is filed under dental care. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.