Why Dental Insurance is a Worthy Investment
It’s a no-brainer to get health insurance, but when it comes to dental insurance, not everyone bites. But dental work is expensive. From cavity fillings to root canals to routine exams, costs spike fast. According to the CDC, almost half of adults aged 30-years or older have signs of gum disease.
Depending on the carrier, insurance can be expensive, but when considering the costs of going without insurance, it pays to take a second look. Read on to see why Medicare dental insurance should be factored into your healthcare plan if you’re 65 or older.
Cost Savings
Original Medicare generally only covers dental care in emergency or complicated cases. If you want coverage for routine dental care, you will most likely need a dental plan. But, dental coverage through Medicare helps save on copays, exams, and x-rays as well as some of the more complex dental procedures.
Some Medicare plans have dental coverage baked in, while other plans attach separately to a Medicare plan. Medicare Advantage plans (Part C), for example, can include dental coverage. Low copays or nopays are the norm for services like x-rays, teeth cleaning, and exams in addition to some of the more involved procedures.
Finding Dental Insurance
While researching dental plans, you’ll discover that most offer total coverage for preventative care. You’ll typically have a copayment at the time of service, and those rates vary. Shop around for the best deal to fit your needs.
Besides the regular exams, dental plans usually cover the basics, like tooth extraction or filling a cavity. Those kinds of services go beyond a copayment, and normally require you to pay a deductible (and sometimes coinsurance) for those services.
Complex procedures may have some insurance benefits too. Periodontal treatment for gum disease or root canals could be covered, but you’ll also probably pay more out of pocket for those services.
Additional dental insurance, or supplemental insurance, can be added to Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plans for better peace of mind. These plans provide more coverage than the Medicare Advantage plan and may be added to a plan lacking dental benefits.
While supplemental plans aren’t available in every state, there are plenty of options. Opt for more basic plans involving routine procedures or more comprehensive plans for things including bridges, dentures, and crowns to cover you in case of the unexpected issue. As an added bonus, some of these plans even include vision coverage for Medicare-eligible people.
Regular Maintenance
Neglected dental issues lead to larger problems. Without insurance, and without annual exams, what could be a simple dental fix turns into a huge problem. When dental care is left unchecked, what could have been minor often turns into a big problem and large medical bill.
Acid reflux, for example, can be thwarted when detected early. With care, tooth enamel may be restored. Without regular dental exams, acid reflux causes tooth erosion and periodontal problems that add up to hefty dental bills. Go without dental insurance and you potentially go without the vital preventative exams needed to keep your mouth healthy and trouble-free.
Supplemental Insurance
When a dental emergency occurs, your dental insurance will help fill in the gaps. If you suffer from frequent dental ailments, or have recurring issues like acid reflux, having the right dental insurance is essential to your better health. Routine care or the unexpected tooth emergency, the right dental insurance plan is a wallet-saver.
