We've maintained our dental insurance, through Cobra, since I retired last June. I'm reaching the end of the COBRA coverage.
I talked to our dentist to find out if they have any deals for cash payments, at time of service. It's a 5% discount of "full price". I asked if our current insurance was paying them full price or a negotiated rate... Current insurance pays a lesser, negotiated rate.
The office only takes PPO providers, not HMO. (Higher reimbursement rates.) I like this dentist - our family has been using them since 2002 and I'd prefer not to change providers.
The kids get a very limited dental coverage through their exchange purchased medical insurance, but it does not cover this dentist - so the office has been billing that provider, getting rejected, then billing my COBRA plan.
I've been pricing PPO plans that cover this dentist. It looks like I can get a PPO plan for less than my current premium, but it has wait periods for things we'll likely need. (6 month wait on fillings, 1 year wait on crowns). To get an "immediate coverage" plan it's significantly more (double the premium of the other plan, and about $50/month than my current plan for the family.)
I need dental insurance because my husband and older son have "soft" teeth and tend to need a lot of work... ongoing. (My younger son and I have pretty indestructible teeth, thank goodness.) My biggest concern is having my copay/balances be based on negotiated rates...
What have you all done? Is dental insurance a rip off or a good idea?
I talked to our dentist to find out if they have any deals for cash payments, at time of service. It's a 5% discount of "full price". I asked if our current insurance was paying them full price or a negotiated rate... Current insurance pays a lesser, negotiated rate.
The office only takes PPO providers, not HMO. (Higher reimbursement rates.) I like this dentist - our family has been using them since 2002 and I'd prefer not to change providers.
The kids get a very limited dental coverage through their exchange purchased medical insurance, but it does not cover this dentist - so the office has been billing that provider, getting rejected, then billing my COBRA plan.
I've been pricing PPO plans that cover this dentist. It looks like I can get a PPO plan for less than my current premium, but it has wait periods for things we'll likely need. (6 month wait on fillings, 1 year wait on crowns). To get an "immediate coverage" plan it's significantly more (double the premium of the other plan, and about $50/month than my current plan for the family.)
I need dental insurance because my husband and older son have "soft" teeth and tend to need a lot of work... ongoing. (My younger son and I have pretty indestructible teeth, thank goodness.) My biggest concern is having my copay/balances be based on negotiated rates...
What have you all done? Is dental insurance a rip off or a good idea?