There are three main options when it comes to financing your dental care: utilizing dental insurance, paying with cash, or using a dental savings plan. If your job doesn’t provide dental insurance and you’d like to minimize the amount of money you spend at the dentist’s office, it might behoove you to look into a dental savings plan. Keep reading below to learn how these plans work so you can decide if they’re right for you.
How Do Dental Savings Plans Work?
Also called a dental discount plan, a dental savings plan is an alternative to traditional insurance. Rather than paying premiums, joining one of these programs simply involves paying a flat fee once a year or month. In many cases, preventive services like checkups, cleanings, and x-rays are almost or completely covered, with additional discounts on most other services offered by the practice.
Pros of Dental Savings Plans
The primary benefit of joining a dental discount plan is saving money on dental care. Only about half of adults in the United States have private dental insurance, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If you’re included in that statistic, a savings plan can make your care more affordable.
Another advantage is that, unlike traditional dental insurance, you often don’t have to endure a waiting period before you can start utilizing your benefits. There are also no deductibles, copays, or annual maximums to worry about.
Cons of Dental Savings Plans
While there are plenty of reasons to consider getting a dental savings plan, there are some potential drawbacks. For example, they might not cover the entire cost of any service, even preventive care. Dental insurance, on the other hand, usually covers two checkups and cleanings a year.
You might also be limited on where you can seek care from. If you participate in a plan offered by your dentist’s office, those benefits will most likely not transfer if you decide to visit a different practice.
Is a Dental Savings Plan Right for You?
Dental savings plans are more suited for some people than others. Here are some situations in which you might benefit from one:
- Your oral care needs are minimal. If you’re diligent about at-home dental hygiene and don’t require care beyond routine checkups and cleanings, then a dental savings plan could save you money.
- You’re in between jobs. If you lose the health insurance provided by your job, a discount plan could help you meet your dental needs until you sign up for your next employer’s insurance plan.
- You’re on Medicare. Medicare covers a lot of medical care but not very much dental care. A dental savings plan could keep your oral healthcare costs to a minimum.
If you think a dental savings plan could work for you, do your research and read the fine print carefully. Examine the fees and services covered to help you find a budget-friendly plan that meets your needs.
About the Practice
Dr. Steven Crovatto and Dr. Megan Edwards have been providing family dental care together at their Orange Park, FL practice. They both earned their Doctor of Dental Medicine degrees from the University of Florida. Their Smile Network Dental Savings Plan covers most preventive care and offers a 15% discount on most additional services. To learn whether this plan is right for you, contact their office at (904) 272-0800.