Which is most cost-effective, Dental Insurance or Dental Discount Program?

[Chazm]

Continental life is better IMO.

Aetna? I may not show the best but I prefer to show the simplest.
I like to send a brochure and be done with it. I'm not wasting an hour to explain a plan and have to run quotes for dental.

 

[Medicare bro]

Aetna? I may not show the best but I prefer to show the simplest.
I like to send a brochure and be done with it. I'm not wasting an hour to explain a plan and have to run quotes for dental.

You should check it out. The plans are pretty good. They also go up to $4000

 

[Chazm]

You should check it out. The plans are pretty good. They also go up to $4000

I've seen it. The reasons I listed is why I don't sell it. Manhattan life goes to $5k. NCD goes to 10k but I have the same issues with quoting and looking up plan info. Manhattan life is much easier. One brochure and that's it. They have their quote and easy plan info right there.

You can't do that with Aetna

 

[AllThingsMedicare]

To LostDollar

PM sounds good to me. Yes what's the downside?

You said...
Two things.
First, I am NOT an expert on dental plans. I am a consumer of dental insurance with a focus on coverage I personally need focused on restoration of damaged teeth.

I reply...
I don't care I'm interested in consumers' experience in selecting insurance or saving plan to get financial help for dental disease. How can I help them get best value? If they had $$$ they would already have it.

You said...
Second, before I try to work out a short answer to your question, would you tell me why it sounds good to you.

I reply...
What? Physicians Mutual? Why? It checks all the boxes with exception of kinda high premium of $56, no max, no wait, no deductible, large network.
So what's the downside besides what's the cost -sharing and may not be affordable for my clients. I like the rest.
My personal plan I've had 45 yrs as employee/retiree cost $85 for couple (MetLife), low deductible and $2500 max. I never had to shop, I just keep it because I can afford it. Like ALL insurance I own, I hope I never need it.

 

[bornahero]

If I wanted to make a blank Compare Plans Table for a lay consumer to use to compare plans what needs to go on it?

If you were comparing cost /benefit what would a good plan look like? For instance "annual premium + deductible divided by Maximum annual benefit" =??? For a good plan?
____ Provider network within 25 miles
What am I missing?

• Plan Type
  • Discount
  • Indemnity
  • HMO/PPO
• Premium
• Deductible
• Annual Max
• Benefit Levels
  • Preventive
    • Copay/Coinsurance
    • Waiting Period
  • Basic
    • Copay/Coinsurance
    • Waiting Period
  • Major
    • Copay/Coinsurance
    • Waiting Period
• Coinsurance/Copay
  • Is it different by benefit level?
  • Does it change during the year?
• Networks (if any)
• Claim filing

 

[somarco]

A good dental plan is one that is accepted by dentists you prefer to use.

Not much else matters if you are required to use an inexperienced dentist . . .

 

[annon123]

A good dental plan is one that is accepted by dentists you prefer to use.

Not much else matters if you are required to use an inexperienced dentist . . .

Inexperienced certainly can have some issues (and not just with dental). I have used a dental school on more than one occasion. They are overseen by experienced dentists. Most of the time what went on was fine although time consuming (but worth the time trade off for cheaper dental at those particular points in my life). And twice they did mess up (although it was fixable and both times it was a 3rd year who did it, not a 4th year). I'd think twice about using them for an implant or crown or even a big filling. Screw those up and the consequences are greater and it is harder to fix. I did orthodontia for my kid through a dental school and that worked out well and saved me several thousand over what it would have cost me even with the work dental insurance I had at the time.

 

[LostDollar]

To LostDollar


I reply...
What? Physicians Mutual? Why? It checks all the boxes with exception of kinda high premium of $56, no max, no wait, no deductible, large network.
So what's the downside besides what's the cost -sharing and may not be affordable for my clients. I like the rest.

I'm sorry. My time right now is consumed with a contractor guy and a phone guy because of some problems I am having. I can't do a more lengthy response, but I did not want to ignore you either.

Stan the annuity man, in his videos, is fond of making a comment something along the lines of insurance companies have the big buildings for a reason.

A line item in my Insurance Forums senior market agent training relates to dental. Several times, 3-4-5 years ago in commenting on dental insurance, a very experienced senior market agent would make comments about co-insurance, "what is the percent a percent of?".

So let's pretend that an insurance company develops a "flat fee" reimbursement type dental product that will make the insurance company money.

Next, market research shows that "hot buttons" for consumers of dental insurance plans are 'maximum plan payouts", "waiting periods for services", and "deductibles for payments".

Now, if the insurance company has crafted a dental insurance plan that is profitable for them because "they have limited the number of services covered" and "they pay out with a "lower end" flat fee reimbursement", the challenge becomes how to craft marketing material that will entice the consumer to buy. (You have just bought the dream.)

Hunt up a reimbursement chart for the plan. And figure that 70% of (their) (maybe lower than other carriers') UCR is just a flat fee in a range rather than a single flat fee.

Edit 12/21
Mistake above, the 70% is of maximum allowable charge, not UCR.
End edit

Don't just go with checked boxes, look at what you are really getting for the premium.

 

[rmhaire]

Inexperienced certainly can have some issues (and not just with dental). I have used a dental school on more than one occasion. They are overseen by experienced dentists. Most of the time what went on was fine although time consuming (but worth the time trade off for cheaper dental at those particular points in my life). And twice they did mess up (although it was fixable and both times it was a 3rd year who did it, not a 4th year). I'd think twice about using them for an implant or crown or even a big filling. Screw those up and the consequences are greater and it is harder to fix. I did orthodontia for my kid through a dental school and that worked out well and saved me several thousand over what it would have cost me even with the work dental insurance I had at the time.

Since we're talking about teeth ...

When we turned 5 or 6, we all got new teeth. Damn shame we can't do it again at 50 or 60.

Also, you can get free extractions in South Georgia.

Practically any redneck bar will do it on Friday or Saturday nights.

 

[annon123]

Since we're talking about teeth ...

When we turned 5 or 6, we all got new teeth. Damn shame we can't do it again at 50 or 60.

Wouldn't those be called dentures? Just sayin'