There are a few things that you need to know before you buy a dental insurance plan. The facts are in and it’s quite possible that dental insurance may not be your best option for dental care. I realize that this goes against traditional thinking because of health insurance, auto, etc., however, the numbers don’t lie and if you actually take the time to sit down and thoroughly read what a dental insurance policy actually covers, you may decide to run, not walk away from it. Here are a few reasons why dental insurance is not the best plan for your oral health needs.

#1. Price – Most decent dental plans are actually quite expensive. I realize that there are some being offered online for $6-7.00 per month, however, the large majority of these plans do not provide adequate coverage. I urge you to read what these plans cover from top to bottom. After doing so, you’ll understand what I mean.

#2. Pre-Existing conditions are NOT covered – This is a biggie. This means that if you are in pain right now and decide to buy a dental insurance plan to help you offset the cost of your visit to the dentist, you’re in for a shock, because they will not cover you. It’s no different than any other type of insurance out there. If you have a dent in your car door and go to buy car insurance do you think that they will repair that for you? Not a chance! They will, however, take a picture of it so they have proof that it was a “pre-existing” condition.

A dental insurance plan won’t begin to cover any part of a pre-existing condition until after you’ve gone through a 12 month waiting period and even then, only on a progressive scale.”Progressive” means that the longer you hold the policy, the more they’ll pay over time. An example would be 10% after one year, 25% after two, 50% after three, ect. In the meantime, you’ll have to pay everything else out of your own pocket, including your deductible and premiums. Ouch!

#3. This refers to the above, but I just want to make it clear. A dental insurance plan is designed to provide preventive dentistry. That means regularly cleaning your teeth, checking for fillings and basically taking care of small stuff so they won’t have to pay for major dental work down the road.

Summary – Your best option in the current market is a dental discount plan. The reasons for this are as follows:

#1. Low Fee To Join – Individual plans as low as $80 per year.

#2. Pre-existing conditions are not a problem – Since discount plans are not insurance you can be seen for any reason.

#3. Big Discounts – Save 10-60% on both routine dental care AND major dental work such as, dentures, braces, bridge work and more.

#4. No waiting periods – See a dentist within 1-3 days from the day you join.

#5. No Age Limits Or Other Exclusions – Read it again and smile.

There’s more, but I believe I’ve made my point. So before you decide to buy that dental insurance plan, take a good look at dental discount plans instead and start saving today!