Dental Insurance

[Vdubchaos]

Just wondering how people feel about their Dental Insurance (assuming you even have one). Dental has been killing us softly past 10-15 years.

Personally I don't and my job doesn't offer it. HOWEVER every time I look it up it just doesn't make any sense.

First, $1500 cap. WTF is that? That doesn't even cover a root canal.

:hmm:

Second, between annual deductible and monthly payments I'm looking at about $550 out of pocket a year. Any major work/service = 40% of the cost. Let's assume 2 fillings a year. That's $200-300 a year EASY. So we are taking $700-1000 of coverage for $500-700 a year?



Third, Coverage. Best insurance covers 60% for Basic or Major Services. So considering $550 a year and let's say 2 fillings per year. That's $200-300 a year EASY.

We are taking $700-1000 of coverage for $500-700 a year? Sounds like an even trade.

I'm not going to include waiting period into my bitch fest. That I can understand, people want to get it when they need it.

NOTE: This might vary by state/Country.

Major Dental surgery (like dental implants) can cost upwards of 30k. There is # of my family members that got hit with this type of expense. It can easily cripple just about any person and there is no insurance that will help (it seems).

This sucks

/End Rant

I'm wondering if any companies out there cover 100% of dental.

 

[nickbits]

Most dental plans I've looked at are similar to what've noted. I.e. not very good. I have basic coverage that is preventative only but costs me $0 oop.
I used to have a dental HMO that was ok. It had pretty big discounts on everything. I forget what my 2 crowns cost me but the billed amount was $2200.

 

[Leros]

My dental insurance is pretty decent. Normal preventative stuff is 100% covered. Things like fillings and crowns are 80% covered.

 

[Vdubchaos]

Yep

I used to have HMO as well that covered all my premiums and I don't believe had caps (I could be wrong). It was 8+ years ago though, Employer sponsored premiums.

That was nice....

I actually held off on 2 implants I was told I need on the right side. I've been able to get by for 4-5 years hehe.

I won't even get into my wife's teeth....

30k bill is not a matter of if, it's a matter of when.

:$

 

[fstime]

Health care is a business in the US, go to some semi-decent eastern european country like Bulgaria and get what would cost thousands to tens of thousands of dollars done for a few hundred bucks.

It still comes out cheaper even with the $1000 plane ticket in some cases.

 

[Vdubchaos]

Health care is a business in the US, go to some semi-decent eastern european country like Bulgaria and get what would cost thousands to tens of thousands of dollars done for a few hundred bucks.

It still comes out cheaper even with the $1000 plane ticket in some cases.

My mom went to Poland # of times and not only did she get same (if not better) quality service but also paid 5th the price!

Since my brother/family lives there, it's always on the table...

 

[bigpimpatl]

yep, medical tourism.

I think there are even some insurance providers that are transitioning to it for complicated/costly services.

 

[Gooberlx2]

I hate dental insurance. Most DPO plans are either BS, as described in the OP, or unaffordable.

I had a dental hmo/dmo once that was good (anthem bcbs I think). The premium and copays were reasonable, good providers, good coverage, etc...

Employer switched to some awful dmo plan from Aetna that only covers those budget places like bright now, perfect teeth, comfort dental, etc... Fuckin' terribad places staffed by car salesmen who happened to squeak by in the worst dental schools.

 

[DaveSimmons]

[size=-2]Lisa needs braces![/size]



I'm at a small company that pays medical but not dental. Personal plans make no sense at all, just like (small) company dental. The cost vs. the coverage limits just doesn't work out. You're better off putting the money into a savings account for when you need a filling, etc.

Employer switched to some awful dmo plan from Aetna that only covers those budget places like bright now, perfect teeth, comfort dental, etc... Fuckin' terribad places staffed by car salesmen who happened to squeak by in the worst dental schools.

"Dental discount plans" are the same -- the good dentists don't belong to them so if you want to save any money you have to settle for a third-rate tooth butcher.


[size=-2]Dental plan![/size]

 

[Craig234]

Self bought dental insurance is problematic, but if you need it, check Delta Dental, or if in CA Costco who uses them (need executive Costco for $50 more).

It has its problems, but it's cheap - I think under $100 a year - and does provide some discounts in network. Here's a story:

A highly rated private dentist not in the network recommended a root canal for a tooth and suggested a high quality endodontist - $1100 for it. No negotiation.

Turned out, that same endodontist was in the network - lowering the price I think to about $250. Pretty good savings.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Lisa needs braces!

 

[Vdubchaos]

Self bought dental insurance is problematic, but if you need it, check Delta Dental, or if in CA Costco who uses them (need executive Costco for $50 more).

It has its problems, but it's cheap - I think under $100 a year - and does provide some discounts in network. Here's a story:

A highly rated private dentist not in the network recommended a root canal for a tooth and suggested a high quality endodontist - $1100 for it. No negotiation.

Turned out, that same endodontist was in the network - lowering the price I think to about $250. Pretty good savings.

Sound good, but only available in CA.

 

[boomhower]

I have it through work and it's pretty crappy. Copay's are reasonable but the cap is $1k. I had let a lot of slings slide during my unemployed/underemployed years and blew way past it several years in a row. It doesn't even cover a single root canal.

Yep

I used to have HMO as well that covered all my premiums and I don't believe had caps (I could be wrong). It was 8+ years ago though, Employer sponsored premiums.

That was nice....

I actually held off on 2 implants I was told I need on the right side. I've been able to get by for 4-5 years hehe.

I won't even get into my wife's teeth....

30k bill is not a matter of if, it's a matter of when.

:$

I think it's denture time.

 

[Jimzz]

Yea I don't have it for the same reason, cost more than you really save. By that call a dentist and ask for the cash price. All of a sudden the price drops a lot. Take that lower price and compare to what it cost with insurance plus the cost of the policy.

 

[hdeck]

Not sure where you are going, but your numbers are way off the dental coverages I've been offered at every company I have worked for. My insurance pays 90% for major coverages, and there was an option for 100%. My last job it paid 80% (different insurance company). And last time I checked a root canal wasn't $1,500.

 

[xanis]

I'm employed, but I don't have dental coverage (only medical). It's not a huge deal for me because I get a $2,000/year medical stipend, so I just pay the dentist in full and get reimbursed.

 

[edro]

My employer sponsored insurance is: $263/year

They pay 100% for diagnostic and preventative.
80% for restorative, periodonitcs, surgery and adjunctive.

I just went a few weeks ago.
The basic cleaning was $209, my insurance paid $200.
They did a few sealants on molars to prevent cavities in the deep recesses for $49, which insurance didn't cover. (I guess sealants aren't "preventative" enough)

$75 deductible, $1500 limit annually

It's definitely worth it to me.

 

[xanis]

Not sure where you are going, but your numbers are way off the dental coverages I've been offered at every company I have worked for. My insurance pays 90% for major coverages, and there was an option for 100%. My last job it paid 80% (different insurance company). And last time I checked a root canal wasn't $1,500.

$1500 for a root canal is probably on the high side but I don't think it's too crazy. I just went to the dentist for a cleaning and x-rays and it was ~$280 IIRC, so I could see getting up over $1000 for a procedure like that.

 

[child of wonder]

My premiums come out to $520 a year. That more than makes up for a family of 4 having 2 checkups a year.

 

[luv2liv]

3 root canals + porcelain crowns = $6000 total. insurance helped with $2000. and i paid out of pocket $4000. ridiculous.

as others have said, it's best to just go have a nice vacation out of usa and get medical done.

 

[kalrith]

$1500 for a root canal is probably on the high side but I don't think it's too crazy. I just went to the dentist for a cleaning and x-rays and it was ~$280 IIRC, so I could see getting up over $1000 for a procedure like that.

I think my dentist charged (with the PPO discount) about $1,600 for a root canal and crown. That maxed out my policy limit and cost me $600.

My dental plan through work is OK. It's about $180 per year, covers all cleanings and x-rays, covers 80% of minor stuff (filings & root canals), and covers 50% of major stuff (crowns). Just two teeth cleanings would probably cost more than my premium.

I agree that the non-work-sponsored plans often don't make financial sense.

 

[Leymenaide]

Health care is a business in the US, go to some semi-decent eastern european country like Bulgaria and get what would cost thousands to tens of thousands of dollars done for a few hundred bucks.

It still comes out cheaper even with the $1000 plane ticket in some cases.

Charter busses of Swiss and Germans go every weekend to Budapest.
The work I had done in the east was less invasive and has lasted. I always have my teeth checked when I am in the east. It is cheaper than with my insurance here.

 

[Vdubchaos]

My employer sponsored insurance is: $263/year

They pay 100% for diagnostic and preventative.
80% for restorative, periodonitcs, surgery and adjunctive.

I just went a few weeks ago.
The basic cleaning was $209, my insurance paid $200.
They did a few sealants on molars to prevent cavities in the deep recesses for $49, which insurance didn't cover. (I guess sealants aren't "preventative" enough)

$75 deductible, $1500 limit annually

It's definitely worth it to me.

Wow, that's pretty good. No yearly cap?

So basically Companies are getting insurance that NO individual can ever get?

WTF?

 

[JimmiG]

Most people do here. Only costs like $20 a month, the rest is paid by the government. Well worth it.

 

[TheSiege]

20 buck a month for my whole family, $50 deductible, max 1500 per person. Preventive covered at 100% everything else is covered at 80% by my company is the exception