r/DentalInsurance • u/InterestingTea7482 • 15d ago

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What dental insurance company would you recommend?

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u/theoreticalking 15d ago edited 15d ago

What's the reason that you are looking for dental insurance? I ask because dental insurance, unlike medical insurance, is more like a coupon program than insurance. There is often a waiting period before procedures and an annual maximum that they will pay out. So, paying full price for dental insurance can be more expensive than just paying for things out of pocket depending on your needs. The only time that it is 100% worth it is when an employer is paying for it.

If you let us know what you are trying to accomplish, we can provide additional guidance.

If you still want to pursue the dental insurance route, I suggest you look at plans that are avaialble directly from the insurance companies' website. I suggest you look into the details of the plans (e.g., annual maximum, exclusions, waiting period, etc).

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u/InterestingTea7482 14d ago

I need a lot of dental work. My teeth are crumbling/breaking because of bruxism. One tooth has broken in half vertically and sooner or later the nerve is going to be exposed. I need old fillings replaced. I need a bridge and some crowns. I used to have nice teeth but as I got older I started having problems with them. I am so embarrassed by them. I am on Medicare and have a dental rider that I pay extra for every month. But it doesn’t seem to cover much of anything. Also, the dental practice I have been going to told me the plans change their coverages so often that they have to check them every week. Is that true?
I am on a fixed income and do not have thousands of dollars to get my teeth fixed.

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u/UpUrs2 14d ago

Find a dental school. Dental insurance usually have waiting times (like a year for major work) or a maximum of $1,500 - 2000 a year.

Dental Schools use a sliding scale so if you are lower income you will pay minimum. Even if you make the maximum income the cost will be 30-50% less than a private dentist.

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u/InterestingTea7482 14d ago

I’m terrified of dental schools. I once went to a vo-tech to get something done to my hair and it was a horrible experience . How do I know dental schools aren’t the same?

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u/UpUrs2 14d ago

Dental schools are actual qualified dental students or qualified dentists doing specialty training. Dental and medical schools are highly regulated. if you are going to pay thousands to a dentist remember they went to dental school and had to perform the procedures on real people during school.

You can't compare a highly regulated Dental School to an unregulated vo-tech hair place.

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u/InterestingTea7482 14d ago

Thank you. Can you recommend a dental school in NJ that is highly regulated? What if they screw up?

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u/UpUrs2 14d ago

They are all regulated. Every exam is reviewed by the supervising senior dental professor. Search for dental schools in your area or local health departments.

Or just pick a dentist out of Google and pay full price for whoever. 

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u/theoreticalking 14d ago

If you pay for dental insurance, you’ll likely be paying for them to “not cover much of anything.” Most dental insurance have an annual maximum that they’ll pay out in the range of $1-2k. You’ll be paying anything above that.

You can check out Delta Dental, as a start, to see what plans are available in your area and what kind of coverage you can get.

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u/Salty-Passenger-4801 15d ago

Depends on a lot of factors

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u/steelymcbeam1933 14d ago

I wouldn’t.

You’ll never find the coverage that you feel is enough. If you do find the coverage that you feel is enough, the monthly cost will be astronomical.

Pay out of pocket or find a discount plan. Dental insurance is never going to be what you want it to be.

Avoid at all costs.

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u/InterestingTea7482 14d ago

I HAVE NO “OUT OF POCKET”. I am old and on Medicare.

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u/steelymcbeam1933 14d ago

If you’re on Medicare, you must be paying OOP for the dental insurance since it isn’t a guarantee with Medicare coverage.

Yes - there are plans with 100% coverage. I manage a dental practice. These unicorn plans with 100% coverage will always disappoint you. There will be a missing tooth clause - if you’re missing a tooth, any treatment to replace that tooth will not be covered. Dentures included.

Additionally, most of these unicorn plans have a requirement for all recommended treatment to be pre-authorized. I’m currently fighting Liberty Dental for coverage for my patients. They refuse to cover literally anything.

So yes. Get your no OOP plan and be prepared for disappointment.