Great Article on Dental Insurance

[AndreaSti]

Has anyone had success with Humana's Prepaid DHMO C550 plan? We have sold quite a bit lately, just wondering what everyone thinks of it. We haven't had anyone calling us screaming that it stinks yet which is good. I also have a part time employee who bought it for herself but she hasn't used it yet.

 

[retread]

I have dental insurance and have had for many years, through my employee benefits. After I retired, the dental benefits were spun off the health plan as a matter of course as expenses were being reined in, as with many other corporations in the last decade.

It did not take me long to realize that I needed to evaluate the cost of dental insurance to the cost of dental care. What I came to discover was that the annual dental insurance cost was a little over the amount we spent on dental care, with the exception of occasional extra work that was unplanned.

So, I determined that the actual cost of dental insurance to me was the difference between annual preventive care and unplanned dental needs. By subtracting preventive care from the annual dental insurance premium, I considered this was what I was actually paying for in "insurance".

In short, the article John linked to is spot on.

 

[somarco]

The Humana C550 dental plan is the only one I suggest. I don't sell a lot, perhaps a dozen plans a year or so, but it is a 2 minute sale and that is only if I am directly involved.

I get another half dozen or so sales a year that apply direct through my site.

So far no complaints.

My daughter had not been to a dentist in years and was having some issues. I bought the plan for her. It almost paid for itself in 2 visits and she had no complaints.

 

[AndreaSti]

I have dental insurance and have had for many years, through my employee benefits. After I retired, the dental benefits were spun off the health plan as a matter of course as expenses were being reined in, as with many other corporations in the last decade.

It did not take me long to realize that I needed to evaluate the cost of dental insurance to the cost of dental care. What I came to discover was that the annual dental insurance cost was a little over the amount we spent on dental care, with the exception of occasional extra work that was unplanned.

So, I determined that the actual cost of dental insurance to me was the difference between annual preventive care and unplanned dental needs. By subtracting preventive care from the annual dental insurance premium, I considered this was what I was actually paying for in "insurance".

In short, the article John linked to is spot on.

We sell it, insurance and discount plans. We don't have it for ourselves because even taking the comm into account, it isn't worth it to us as a family. We pay out of pocket for preventive and pay for major treatment with our HSA funds. Granted we don't have a lot of problems thankfully but this works great for us. Plus I am paying for braces with HSA $$.

 

[LGilmore]

What the dentist fails to mention is cost to insurance coverage. Dental costs have remained stable over the years because insurance is limited. This means the dentist's office has to "talk" to the customer first before undertaking any procedure that has limited or no coverage by insurance. Dental plans usually have pre-auth conditions as well so the insured can decide if the expense is worth it.

Think how different medical insurance would be if not subject to mandates and more shared costs were involved in decision making? Would an xray for $50 do compared with a MRI for $1000 for an ankle sprain?

One of the big reasons dental costs haven't risen in comparison to medical is insurance for dental doesn't work like a blank check. It requires the patient to make a decision where they share cost .

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

I think it's a great example of everything staying in check when it's the consumer, not an insurance company, that's picking up the tab.

I'm sure dentist would LOVE to bill a carrier $500 for a cleaning and $1,200 for x-rays....but the carrier's aren't having any part of it and the market won't pay it.

 

[Full Throttle]

Yep, I recommend a discount plan for anyone who asks as long as their dentist participates in one. Otherwise you are just trading dollars with dental insurance. And many times you will spend more by having true dental insurance than you would without any dental insurance.

My view on dental, I dislike selling it. But, it can make sense if...

1. Most of the family goes in for cleanings every 6 months.

2. Self employed or premiums via a Sect. 125 plan: although you are trading dollars, at least the dollars are pre-taxed. Benefit muted if you have an HDHP with an HSA.

 

[Crabcake Johnny]

I think it's a great example of everything staying in check when it's the consumer, not an insurance company, that's picking up the tab.

I'm sure dentists would LOVE to bill a carrier $500 for a cleaning and $1,200 for x-rays....but the carrier's aren't having any part of it and the market won't pay it.

 

[retread]

What the dentist fails to mention is cost to insurance coverage. Dental costs have remained stable over the years because insurance is limited. This means the dentist's office has to "talk" to the customer first before undertaking any procedure that has limited or no coverage by insurance. Dental plans usually have pre-auth conditions as well so the insured can decide if the expense is worth it.

Think how different medical insurance would be if not subject to mandates and more shared costs were involved in decision making? Would an xray for $50 do compared with a MRI for $1000 for an ankle sprain?

One of the big reasons dental costs haven't risen in comparison to medical is insurance for dental doesn't work like a blank check. It requires the patient to make a decision where they share cost .

Playing the devil's advocate: That would be fine if your sprained ankle does not impinge on your career, as in NFL, etc. For the average Joe, if you are taking the position that "if it ain't broke, then shoot it with cortisone", x-rays are fine... but if you want a precision diagnosis, then an MRI is the only tool to provide one.

On the other hand, I had a kidney stone attack last year, and the first thing out of the mouth of the doc was "let's get a CT scan". I said "NO. Men have been having kidney stones for the past 4000 years or more. You should be able to diagnose without it". I didn't think the cost justified it. I had to eat my words... After a month of excruciating pain and no kidney stone excretion, I conceded to the CT scan.

In the long run, the CT scan found more than I wanted to, yet netted the same treatment, so it really was an unnecessary cost. I still have the CD... I framed it and hung it on the wall.

Sometimes you just have to punt.

 

[DS4]

I don't know about the rest of you but the only people that call me about dental have a mouthful of pre existing conditions.
They are only looking for a plan that will cover everything from day one, and, they want to use their own dentist.
I hate ind dental.