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What is a discount dental plan?
Discount dental plans are plans designed for individuals, families, and groups who are looking to get a deal and save money on their dental care needs. The dentists and dental care providers who are participating in these plans have agreed to accept a lower fee than they would otherwise charge from their members as payment in full for the services they perform. As a plan member you simply show your membership card when visiting a participating dentist to receive the discounted fees.
What is the difference between discount dental plans and insurance plans?
To be eligible for a dental insurance plan, you have to actually apply, be eligible and be approved for the insurance. Potential members with ongoing health problems may be denied insurance, or have such high premiums that the dental insurance is not worth the trouble. Moreover, dental insurance plans have annual limits as well as deductibles that may limit the benefits you can derive one from the insurance plan. Another advantage of a dental plan over dental insurance is that you are able to receive a discount for procedures that are not usually covered by dental insurance, such as teeth whitening.
How do discount dental plans for groups and businesses work?
Businesses can offer their employees many money-saving dental care options without offering insurance and the high overhead costs it entails. In this way employees can choose their plans that fit their individual needs and have no annual limits. Also since it is a plan and not an insurance there are no health restrictions and no paperwork hassles that come with insurances. Needless to say these type of plans provide employers with a cheaper alternative to group dental insurance with all the hassles that brings with it. Dental care plans are available to groups of all sizes, including retirees, part-time workers and employees uninsured defendants compared to insurance. Moreover both the employer and the employees can save substantial amounts of money by reducing payroll taxes since many dental care plans qualify under section 125 cafeteria plans of the Tax Code.
Why would dentists accept to participate in discount dental plans?
Dentists can reach more patients, retain them, and also reactivate them by using a discount dental plan. Their dental practice can offer a viable solution to those patients who are under-insured or those who have no dental insurance at all. Dentists can reach more patients by bringing in the new patients by inviting them to take advantage of the potential savings that are offered by such plans. Dentists can also retain their patients by offering a solution to them that would otherwise be unaffordable without a discount on their services. Moreover dentists can motivate idle patients to sign up for new treatments or continue their treatment program by offering the significant savings through the plan. This would translate into increased revenue for the dentists because they receive payment directly from the patients rather than have to wait for the insurance company to pay them. They also avoid a lot of hassle and paperwork that dental insurance plans bring with them. Also they avoid the risk of the insurance company postponing payment or refusing to pay them.
How do I find a discount dental plan?
There are plenty of online companies to offer discount dental plans depending on your location within the United States. The first step is to find one of these companies. Usually you would be asked to enter your ZIP code so that the website can find participating plans and participating dentists in your area. Thus, you will then be shown a listing of all participating dental plans and dentists in your area from which you can choose you would be able to see the yearly membership rates for an individual and family, and also the earliest activation date of the plan which is usually one or two days from the present day.
You will also be able to see the plan features and highlights as well as a sample plan savings for a variety of dental procedures. For example, you might find that a root canal treatment for a molar may cost $1100 without the dental plan, however you would receive a savings of more than $500 if you participate in the plan so that you end up being around $600.
Discounts usually vary between 30% and 60% for any given dental procedure. It’s important to note that plan savings are based on geographical areas so that the fee schedules and savings will vary between two areas within a city, or between two states. Also, fees and discounts will vary between different providers within the same ZIP code. Once you sign up you will receive a welcome letter and your membership card as well as support and contact documentation.
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Source by Chris MacClintock
