Individual Dental Insurance

Dental insurance and health insurance are different. A dental insurance is designed to pay for the costs of necessary dental treatments. When it comes to cosmetic dentistry procedures then the insurance doesn't consider them as necessary.

In most cases therefore the dental insurance will not cover the costs for any cosmetic treatments like teeth whitening, porcelain crowns or veneers but only for a treatment where is clear physical need for it.

In the United States you usually get dental insurance through your employer together with your health insurance. However, there are more than 45 million Americans without a health insurance at all and the American Dental Association says that more than half of the US population doesn't have any dental insurance.

In Canada the health insurance system is known under the name medicare but dental care is not covered by it either. For dental care Canadians also have to approach either their employer, a private insurance or financing company or simply pay cash themselves.

So do you always have to pay cash for all cosmetic dentistry procedures yourself? The answer is no. Today there are private companies who help you either to finance the high costs or offer attractive discounts for cosmetic dental treatments.

The first step to obtain dental insurance is to ask your employer. Check what insurance he can offer but you are not limited to this one. There are many providers with different plans available. It's important to take a closer look and choose one which benefits you best.

Cheap Dental Insurance

Some insurances will not pay for the bills of all dentists. If you go to a dentist which is not part of the insurance's network then you may end up paying the bills yourself. Choose a provider who supports a large network of dentists.

Read the UCR, the Usual Customary and Reasonable. Some companies have their own prices which can differ much from what the detists charges. If the dentist wants $100 for a tooth cleaning but the insurance company only pays $70 then you must pay the difference of $30 yourself. If the insurance supports only contracted dentists then you shouldn't be charged for the difference tho. If you have a insurance where you can choose the dentist yourself, then the UCR will be important.

Most dental insurance companies distinguish between three categories of dental treatments, which are preventive, basic or restorative or major. Many companies don't include "major" but it should be important to you. "Major" can be bridges, crowns or dentures for example. if it is not covered then you must pay everything yourself.

With the increasing demand for cosmetic dentistry some companies found ways to get around the fact that most insurances don't cover cosmetic treatments. Such companies are Fortis Benefits Insurance, CIGNA Healthcare, Metlife, BlueCross, Unicorn Financial Services, Enhance Patient Financing, Health Ready, Care Credit and others.

These companies can either provide discounts between 10% and 35% for cosmetic dental treatments or they offer you financing solutions in form of a loan. When you consider that a complete smile makeover with porcelain veneers or dental implants for example can quickly cost several thousand dollars then these savings can be significant.