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

[AllThingsMedicare]

From what I have seen in insurance brochures, I am not convinced Dental INSURANCE is better than Dental DISCOUNT programs.
I'm not a broker, I'm an educator. Trying to teach Medicare clients how to shop and select a policy makes my head spin. I have read some tips from some members though. I hate to see them take their health insurance to MA just for meager DVH benefits.
What is your opinion between the two options and why? Thanks!

 

[annon123]

Remind your folks that dental schools also offer lower prices. The students (locally the clinics are: teeth cleaning, dental, crowns and implants, and orthodontia). Every student (and even residents and fellows) here are supervised by actual dentists (and so the appointments take longer). For example, I most recently had my teeth cleaned for $30 (although I had a discount on their regular price because she was also using me as a patient for one of her exams, the price would have been $75 with fluoride).

There are some risks though. A 3rd year dental student cracked a filling as he sanded it too thin and it had to be redone. A 4th year then redid it as one of his exams and passed with an A. Was not happy as you lose a bit of tooth each time a filling is put in but I saved a considerable amount of money. I had to tell an early in the game dental assistant student she had to push harder with the spinning brush tool (she was afraid she'd hurt me so was barely touching my teeth). As a result I try to get final year students regardless of what they are doing. Less learning happens to my disadvantage.

 

[rmhaire]

Remind your folks that dental schools also offer lower prices. The students (locally the clinics are: teeth cleaning, dental, crowns and implants, and orthodontia).

I'd never thought of that.

I wonder if I should get my name on the list at the local mortician school.

 

[annon123]

I'd never thought of that.

I wonder if I should get my name on the list at the local mortician school.

You might want to first check to see if they will guarantee that they can turn you into a ghoul... so that you can continue to haunt the forums after your untimely demise at 104 (grin).

 

[Chazm]

I stopped selling dental plans a few years ago because they usually aren't worth it. I advised them to buy a discount plan.

Then, they all complained about the discount plan and still wanted a dental plan. They still weren't happy. And guess what? They never will. They still want to buy something. People love to buy.

I keep it short and sweet now.
I have Manhattan life, if you want the plan I personally have, here you go.
Sometimes I'll send out UHCs DVH.

 

[LostDollar]

From what I have seen in insurance brochures, I am not convinced Dental INSURANCE is better than Dental DISCOUNT programs.
I'm not a broker, I'm an educator. Trying to teach Medicare clients how to shop and select a policy makes my head spin. I have read some tips from some members though. I hate to see them take their health insurance to MA just for meager DVH benefits.
What is your opinion between the two options and why? Thanks!

Caveat, not an agent. (But currently (2024) a holder of two dental insurance plans)

Dental Insurance -- when used with an in-network provider -- will give you repricing from the provider's "retail" price to the provider's "network" price and then assist you with cash payment of the discounted price.

Dental Insurance programs will differ in how widely they are accepted as in-network by providers.

The Dental Discount program will get you a reduction in the provider's retail price. You may find these less widely accepted than some Dental Insurance programs (such as Delta or BCBSKS in Kansas).

The Dental Discount program will probably have a cheaper premium.

 

[LostDollar]

From what I have seen in insurance brochures, I am not convinced Dental INSURANCE is better than Dental DISCOUNT programs.
I'm not a broker, I'm an educator. Trying to teach Medicare clients how to shop and select a policy makes my head spin. I have read some tips from some members though. I hate to see them take their health insurance to MA just for meager DVH benefits.
What is your opinion between the two options and why? Thanks!

Why do you say an MAPD has meager DVH benefits?

 

[AllThingsMedicare]

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?

 

[AllThingsMedicare]

Lost Dollar--
In my county you get dental benefits are checkup and cleaning. DDS are not nearby. To get treatment you have to buy a rider. Yet they are sold as "medical plans with HDV benefits." Alas, the extra benefits of MA become the driving force for seniors when selecting their path or plan for Medicare. IMO

 

[LostDollar]

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?

I do not have time to think out a longer response right now.

Your first problem with that is that Dental Insurance plans are not standardized like Medigap plans.

Different plans from different carriers and sometimes different premium level plans from the same carrier will have different benefit classifications or coverage levels.

2 examples

Deductibles.
Deductibles can vary in amount -- say $50 to $100.
I think I once saw a plan that had one lifetime deductible.
Sometimes the deductibles apply to Preventive, sometimes not.

What level of service, preventive, basic or major a service is placed in.
While more expensive plans put bitewing xrays in preventive along with cleanings, some lower cost plans will put the bitewing xrays in basic where they are subject to the deductible.

and so on.