I get several calls per week asking about advice from self employed and unemployed patients regarding dental insurance. My response is generally that you need to add up and compare the numbers. How much do you have to pay per month for premiums? Then we can calculate the costs of preventative care for your family without dental coverage. Are you or a family member prone to decay? If so, we'd need to include the cost of a filling or two. Do you have any dental restorations that need to be replaced? Keep in mind that dental insurance typically only pays for two cleanings per year. Some people need more than that, so they would be coming out of pocket for any cleanings outside of that allowance. Also, remember that crown and bridge is usually only covered at 50% up to a predetermined yearly maximum. Also, many insurance companies have a missing tooth clause. So, if a tooth was extracted prior to the coverage beginning, they will not pay for restorations to replace the missing tooth. This is called a "missing tooth clause". Sometimes, there are waiting periods for certain procedures.
Lastly, if you are interested in dental implants, insurance usually doesn't provide any benefits for these procedures.
Generally, I find that it is not beneficial to carry dental insurance unless an employer is paying the premiums for the plan. It is important to us that our patients visit us regularly for routine care. Good preventative care is far less expensive than restorative and cosmetic dentistry.
Debbie Johnson
Brian Johnson, D.M.D., P.C.
1240 Upper Hembree Road
Suite C
Roswell,GA 30076
770.993.9809
http://www.brianjohnsondmd.com/
No comments:
Post a Comment