Chiropractic Savings from 35% to 100%

Discovering Discount Dental Plans
By Paul Stanley
Although the brushing of one’s teeth regularly and the eating of only the healthiest of foods is of utmost importance towards optimum oral health, it is equally important, and in many ways even more so, that regular visits to the dentist be observed. It has been recommended that routine visits to your dentist be scheduled every 6 months. We all know, although we tend to ‘conveniently’ forget about it, that putting off these visits will eventually catch up with us, and that day will arrive when our teeth tell us that going to the dentist is no longer an option, but rather, a throbbing necessity.

There are many reasons why we don’t routinely go to the dentist for checkups and maintenance of our pearly whites, and it is beyond the scope of this specific article to go into the emotional or psychological reasons that exist. I’m sure we’ve all heard people say that just thinking about going to the dentist makes their teeth hurt, and psychosomatic issues aside, we laugh along with them, and continue on our way. But there is one cause for people not going to the dentist until it is absolutely mandatory that we do want to discuss, and that is financial. Very few people include these preventative dental visits in their weekly budget. This is extremely understandable, and it is akin to attempting to get as many miles out of your automobile between oil changes as possible – and, unfortunately, in the long run, just as detrimental. However, dental insurance, unless provided free of charge by an employer, is many times a luxury that the average citizen cannot afford; as with much of health care nowadays, it has become extremely cost-prohibitive, especially for the self-employed. So what is an alternative for those who recognize the need for regular dental care, but are realistically not able to afford dental insurance? The answer: A Discount Dental Plan. Interested? Read on.

So what is a Discount Dental Plan? Let’s start by explaining what most, if not all, Discount Dental Plans are NOT.

1. They are not insurance

2. There are no limits placed on treatment such as yearly maximums ($) or number of times you may be treated

3. There are no restrictions regarding pre-existing conditions

4. Anyone can join – you can’t be refused membership

5. There are generally no limits on the number of dependents that may be included for coverage under a family plan for one price

6. There is no UCR* fee guide restriction.

7. There is no waiting period for coverage.

8. There are no deductibles, i.e., a pre-determined amount of money that the patient must pay to the dentist ‘out of pocket’ before an insurance company will pay for any services.

9. There are no ‘special’ times limiting when the dentist will see you as there are with many insurance plans.

10. There are no insurance forms (claims) to fill out.

So, we briefly know what a Discount Dental Plan isn’t. What is it then?

1. Members receive discounts on health services from participating Health Care Providers.

2. Participating Providers include both General Dentistry and Specialists.

3. Some Discount Dental Plans have a nationwide network of Providers available. There are no state restrictions, whether you are at home or on the road, if the Provider is part of the

network, an appointment can be made directly by you, the member, by simply calling the respective Provider and giving them your membership information.

4. A membership in a Discount Dental Plan will often include, at no extra charge, Chiropractic, Vision and Pharmaceutical benefits.

5. Cosmetic dentistry is generally covered by the Plan.

6. Members pay either a nominal monthly or annual membership fee, based on their preference, and membership may be cancelled at any time at the member’s discretion.

7. The member pays the Dental (or vision, chiropractic, etc.) Provider directly a discounted fee for the service rendered at the time of service. This discounted fee has been pre-negotiated between the Discount Dental Plan and the Provider, and is consistent for all the Providers within the network. The member has access to that schedule of fees, listing every procedure, and the member discount so there are ‘no surprises’ upon visiting the Provider’s office. (These amounts can also be viewed by visiting a Discount Dental Plan’s web site even prior to joining).

8. Discounts generally range from 35% to 50% below the cost a ‘non-member’ would be charged.

9. Initial office visits and routine cleanings are generally free.

Check them out - I think you'll be glad you did. Oh – am I a member of a Discount Dental Plan? – You bet!

* Almost all dental insurance companies use what is called a Usual, Customary and Reasonable (UCR) fee guide. This means that they set their own price that they will allow for every dental procedure that they cover. This is not based on what a dentist actually charges, but what the dental insurance company wishes to cover.

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