Most people would not the difference between dental insurance and dental plans. For some, it could mean the same thing - with the word "dental" on both, they would invariably mean saving money on dentist's fees.
However, in real life scenarios there is a difference in convenience between dental insurance and dental plans.
Just like any other insurance program, obtaining the benefit from you dental insurance plan can be a lengthy, albeit complicated, process. To be even covered, a patient must go through a paperwork process and be reviewed for pre-existing conditions. There is also a long waiting period that any one must put up with.
When a person is already covered, and when he has a procedure done, a claim is filed with the insurance company and then the company will send the money, either to the patient (under a reimbursable plan) or to the dentist under a regular plan. Apart from the monthly premium, you will usually have to pay some deductible to benefit from your plan. Of course, not all companies are created alike, and different companies actually have different fees, practices, and claims process.
A dental plan, on the other hand, is not an insurance plan. It's more like a discount plan. You are still able to go to a dentist on the network at any time. With a dental plan, you only need to pay an annual fee - and there are no waiting periods, claim forms, deductibles, or pre-existing conditions. What this is all means is that you will need to pay the discounted dentist's fees from out of your own pocket.
There are an equal number of people who want dental insurance and plans. If you're like most people, then you're probably looking for a cheap dental insurance Have a look around on the Internet and you'd probably see that there as many providers as the number of teeth that you have. At any rate, do not think for a moment that dental plans are dental insurance plans, because they are not.
The combined listings of dental networks in the United States total over 210,000 dentists, so there's a good chance you will find a dentist you like.
