By Susan Braden
Getting dentures is not a simple procedure. In fact, it involves a great deal of dental work. Most individual and group dental insurance does not cover this restorative procedure, even if it is necessary to take the place of missing or decayed teeth, but it's not your only option when it comes to finding affordable dentures.
Take some time to learn the basics about dental insurance. In general, there are two types: preventive and restorative dental coverage.
Preventive refers to check-ups, cleanings and other care that is designed to maintain the health of your teeth and gums.
Restorative, on the other hand, describes such interventions as endodontics, periodontics, orthodontics and implants. Getting dentures falls into this category.
Now that you have a layperson’s knowledge about dental insurance, you need to learn specifically about your own coverage. Unfortunately, many patients know little or nothing about the details of their plan, especially when it comes to what procedures will be covered and to what extent.
When you learn you need dentures, ask your insurer's member services department if your dental insurance covers the cost of dentures. Usually, dentures fall under the umbrella of “major care.” If you are fortunate, your plan might pay for up to 50% of the cost.
Dentures can cost anywhere from $1,600 to $2,000 per piece (upper or lower denture) without dental insurance. Cost will vary depending on the type of denture you need and the state you live in.
There are several parts to the dentures process:
Learn more about each piece needed for your dentures treatment and find out how much you can expect to pay for each thing using the Careington Care 500 dental savings plan. Estimated prices can be found online.
If your current dental plan falls short, you might have to do some scrambling. If your coverage is furnished by your employer, ask when the next open enrollment window is and see if there are other companies who provide better dental coverage for dentures. If so, seriously consider switching. Talk to your employer and learn about all of your options. Even if you must buy your own individual coverage, you may save money in the long run.
Another valuable avenue you can pursue as you seek as much information as possible about sources of dental coverage is the Internet. With the help of search engines like Yahoo! And Google, you can search the worldwide web to learn about dental insurance companies both large and small. Often, consumers have taken the time to post reviews which, while they must be taken with a grain of salt, can furnish information and insight.
There truly is nothing like face-to-face or phone-to-phone conversation when it comes to getting the facts and understanding them. That is why your next step should be to speak to a local insurance agent or helpful representative about the various options available to you. Explain specifically that you need to get dentures and are looking for dental coverage that will pay as much as possible of the cost.
Together, you might find that your best option is an HMO (Health Maintenance Organization) and that you will need to choose a dentist within the HMO’s network to provide your care. On the other hand, you might choose a PPO (preferred Provider Organization), which allows you to have more freedom of choice when it comes to who will provide your dentures.
Before committing to a new dental insurance plan, be sure to investigate one final method for finding affordable dentures - dental savings plans, like the Careington 500 Series plan.
This is a popular alternative to traditional dental insurance. It enables patients to save a great deal of money for a very low monthly price. Large groups of dentists have agreed to provide patients with high-quality, lower-priced services, including dentures.
If you think you have found the plan that's right for you , take as much time as you need to investigate its fine print. Remember, this will be your dental coverage for at least the next year and it must make sense for your overall care, not just for your denture procedure. Understand all out-of-pocket expenses and up-front costs. The more you know now, the less likely you'll face nasty surprises later.
Having your teeth extracted and then being fitted for dentures is a major procedure. It is costly and time-consuming, and you absolutely should feel good about the dentist who gives you your new dentures. Learning all you can about your dental coverage and saving as much money as possible will go a long way toward making the dentures process easier.
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