Dental Discount Plans: Not Insurance, but You'll Still Save

It’s time to grin and bear it: you may need to purchase your own dental discount plan. With employers cutting back on their benefit packages, one of the first extras to go is often the dental plan. Whether you are forced to find your own dental plan due to a stingy corporation or searching for options because you’re self-employed, there are reasonably priced dental plans you can purchase directly from insurance companies and other providers.

Most easy-to-purchase plans are actually just discounted dental service plans and not conventional insurance. That said, these discount plans can often save hundreds of dollars (or more!) if you have major unforeseen dental expenses. They also have other advantages: few limits or maximums, no waiting period, no submitting bills for claims, etc. A dental discount plan means that a dentist has a special agreement with the company to accept significantly lower service fees from you.

I have highlighted some dental discount programs) that offer basic coverage for single people, though many of the companies also sell family plans at a higher membership rate. Also, remember that not all companies will provide dental plans in your area.

Aetna Dental Access
www.aetna.com  
Aetna, known for their full array of insurance products, offers a nationwide dental discount program.
Due to the nature of the program, they claim that over 66,000 dental practice locations can be used with the plan. The discounts on most services range from 30% to 50%. For an annual cost of only $99 (that’s what I was quoted for my state), you’d probably have to have two annual cleaning visits and one additional service in order to make the plan worthwhile. For example, they quote a cost of an adult cleaning at $75 without the plan and $42 with the plan – not an amazing savings on its own. But add a filling ($121 down to $62) or a crown ($867 down to $523) and the discount proves its worth.