Review: Vital Savings Dental Plan by Aetna

Taking the Bite Out of Dental Expenses

Dental care is an important part of health care but is an expensive benefit for most consumers. There are many dental plans but the coverage and cost are as varied as the available plans. To help offset the expense of dental care, Aetna has offered an affordable discount program called Vital Savings. Vital Savings is not a dental insurance plan but a discount program that allows savings on dental procedures. Aetna states in its promotional materials that a family can save 15% to 50% on a variety of dental services including root canals, dentures, X-Rays and prophylactic cleanings.

Fee Schedule
Individual and family plans are affordable at modest fees. For a one time payment of a $15 sign up fee, you will pay $7.50 monthly for the individual plan and $10.50 per month for the family plan. You are given a list of providers that are in your geographic area and once the service is rendered by the approved provider, you present your Vital Savings discount card and receive your discount immediately. There are no claims or forms to complete. If your favorite dentist is not on the Vital Savings program, Aetna will contact that provider and enroll the service provider if they accept the plan terms. Aetna encourages patients to speak to their dentists to enroll in the Vital Savings program.

No forms, deductibles or copays
Unlike many dental insurance plans, there are no claims to file for the Aetna Vital Savings discount plan. Even more appealing there are neither copays, deductibles nor pre-existing conditions limitations or age restrictions. The Vital Savings dental discount plan is unavailable in Vermont and Montana.

Estimate of Savings
Based upon statistics Aetna gathered from the cities of Orlando, Chicago, New York and Los Angeles, an adult cleaning in these areas is approximately $88 but with Aetna Vital Savings card, the procedure costs $53, a savings of $35. Four bitewing X-Rays in these areas are listed at an average cost of $55 with the Aetna Vital Savings dental discount plan boasting a cost of $32, a savings of $26.