topic Re: LOOKING FOR A DENTAL PLAN in Wellness

LOOKING FOR A DENTAL PLAN

Lindsays Grandma — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 05:13:11 GMT

I am currently looking for a dental plan and would appreciate any information on which direction to take. There are so many plans to choose from and I am looking but I sure can use some help. I'm open to suggestions and thank you in advance for your input.

Re: LOOKING FOR A DENTAL PLAN

Winkk — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 12:57:44 GMT

I don't really have an answer for you @Lindsays Grandma but since I retired and using Medicare I don't have a dental plan. I researched them at the time but did not find any that were worth while. I thought the monthly payments were too high and most of them you have to use the dentist in that plan. I've used the same dentist for over 30 years and I'm not dropping him.

I just keep my fingers crossed that I have a good check up.

Re: LOOKING FOR A DENTAL PLAN

Shelbelle — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 13:02:11 GMT

Once my DH went on Medicare he lost our dental plan, he took a private plan with Met Life, cleanings are free and they pay 70% of work done, so far it has worked out well. There are a few other stipulations like a max they will pay out in one year, but very easy to see it laid out on their website.

Re: LOOKING FOR A DENTAL PLAN

kaydee50 — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 13:28:29 GMT

I'm on Medicare and have given up looking for a dental plan. Most of them have high monthly fees, a waiting period, an annual maximum, etc. etc. I found a dentist who gives a 15% discount to seniors, has reasonable fees and hopefully is honest and competent. I'm hoping for the best!!!!

Re: LOOKING FOR A DENTAL PLAN

LilacTree — Sat, 14 Oct 2017 02:03:29 GMT

@Lindsays Grandma wrote:

I am currently looking for a dental plan and would appreciate any information on which direction to take. There are so many plans to choose from and I am looking but I sure can use some help. I'm open to suggestions and thank you in advance for your input.

@Lindsays Grandma

Do you mean insurance? If not, you can go online and get a good discount dental plan. I use Carington (1Dental). It provides good discounts on all dental procedures. Of course you have to pay the discounted price in cash . . . or get a loan from Care Credit (no finance charge if you pay it off in 24 months), but the final cost is much less than what you may have to pay for an insurance policy which usually has a large deductible and limits how many procedures you can have in one year.

Re the discount plans, you have to find a dentist who also participates in the plan. But more and more of them are doing so. These discount plans are very cheap . . . it costs me $129 a year for me and my daughter. Last year, I saved several thousand dollars and had both my top and bottom bridges replaced. My daughter had work done also.

Just look up "discount dental plans" on Google.

Re: LOOKING FOR A DENTAL PLAN

ccassaday — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 19:14:53 GMT

I believe my parents took out MetLife after my dad retired. It's around $100 month. My mom has teeth that have fillings and she has them break easy. So far it's pretty much paid for itself since she has had a couple dental issues.

Re: LOOKING FOR A DENTAL PLAN

nosymrskravitz — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 19:20:22 GMT

lilactree, iam so so glad you posted this dental info, I too am retired and on medicare with no dental, lots of times we travel to mex. about once or twice a yr. for services & that's a 4 hr drive. As I looked over Careington it sounds like a real deal, prices even seem to be the same as in mexico. It would be great just to go to a local dentist. Is there anything that is a negative for you about the company or services? If you have anything to add, please post, Iam serously considering joining. And, thanks again. I love these boards!!

Re: LOOKING FOR A DENTAL PLAN

Shelbelle — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 19:25:58 GMT

The plan my DH has from Met Life is about $375 per year.

Re: LOOKING FOR A DENTAL PLAN

Moonchilde — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 19:46:54 GMT

I would suggest searching the Delta Dental site and looking at their plans. For individuals, there are three plans.

There is probably no dentist anywhere, who takes insurance at all, that doesn’t take Delta.

Two of their plans are the standard type, with deductibles, co-pays, waiting periods and yearly maximums. Most people would want one of these plans, as it’s most dentists, and if you have the “average mouth” you probably wouldn’t be out of pocket very much.

The Delta Care USA plan is different. You must go to a dentist who accepts that particular plan, not the other Delta insurance; not all that many do, especially in smaller towns. There is no waiting period for any work, as there is with regular plans. There are set fees per procedure, not percentages, i.e, a denture can only cost you $800 and you won’t have to pay anything above that. The yearly premium is about $135-$150 and you are well covered. But the downside is that you really won’t have a choice of dentist - it’s a trade-off - good, cheap, no-waiting coverage, but little choice of dentist.

Re: LOOKING FOR A DENTAL PLAN

aubnwa01 — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 20:52:45 GMT

When I retired, I was able to stay on the same MetLife group dental plan that my former employer offered to the active employees & I'd had for many years. I now pay the premium myself, but it's the same amount the co. paid before & still pays for the active folks. It costs me about $30 a month.

Re: LOOKING FOR A DENTAL PLAN

NickNack — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 21:19:12 GMT

I have Blue Cross Blue Shield personal dental insurance. It's $26.50 a month. I've been satisfied with it.

Re: LOOKING FOR A DENTAL PLAN

RedTop — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 21:48:11 GMT

I carry the highest plan with Delta Dental and pay $31 a month. I just paid my $32 bill for my routine six month appointment in September, for oral exam, cancer screening, cleaning and X-rays. The most I have paid out of pocket was $90 for a filling in a molar.

I signed up online, and have had no issues with this coverage, which has allowed me to continue the same dental regime as when I worked. I highly recommend Delta Dental.

Re: LOOKING FOR A DENTAL PLAN

Mary Bailey — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 22:05:49 GMT

Delta Dental has coverage associated with AARP (through Delta Dental PA) or in some states you can get Delta's Individual plan or a Delta Dental Discount Plan. Also try TruAssure.

Good advise to check waiting periods and exclusions. See if deductible applies to all services or waived on any service. Also check frequencies for exams, cleanings and x-rays.

No matter what insurance/discount plan you take, always ask if they "participate" don't say "do you take ....?" Even non-participating will take the payment from the insurance company. If they don't participate, you don't get a discount.

Re: LOOKING FOR A DENTAL PLAN

LilacTree — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 23:43:56 GMT

@nosymrskravitz wrote:
lilactree, iam so so glad you posted this dental info, I too am retired and on medicare with no dental, lots of times we travel to mex. about once or twice a yr. for services & that's a 4 hr drive. As I looked over Careington it sounds like a real deal, prices even seem to be the same as in mexico. It would be great just to go to a local dentist. Is there anything that is a negative for you about the company or services? If you have anything to add, please post, Iam serously considering joining. And, thanks again. I love these boards!!

@nosymrskravitz

I used them twice, and my daughter used them twice and she has more to go. I am totally happy with the results and the discounts are sometimes 50-70%, depending upon the procedure. I couldn't recommend this process more highly.

You'll have to research dentists in your area to see who participates. It's of course important who the dentist is, so research him/her thoroughly. My dentist (and his associates) are wonderful. If I remember correctly, the discount site has lists of dentists who participate. You enter your zip code and a list should come up.

Good luck!!

Re: LOOKING FOR A DENTAL PLAN

SilleeMee — Sat, 14 Oct 2017 00:43:20 GMT

I'm retired, 62yo and I just found out that both my dental and health plans will no longer be available next year because of recent changes to ACA where I buy both types of insurance from an exchange. I also will be losing the subsidy which helps pay for a large portion of my premiums so that I could afford the insurance. Looks like now I will be without either. I can't tell you how upsetting today's news has made me. Sorry for the rant.

Re: LOOKING FOR A DENTAL PLAN

nosymrskravitz — Sat, 14 Oct 2017 01:10:02 GMT

Thank you all so very much for your responses, recommendations & advice. I've already looked up some companies & Dr.'s. Got some homework to do. I was very happy to hear about these plans, didn't know they existed. My teeth are chattering with joy, lol.

Re: LOOKING FOR A DENTAL PLAN

Lindsays Grandma — Sat, 14 Oct 2017 03:15:54 GMT

@LilacTree wrote:
@Lindsays Grandma wrote:
I am currently looking for a dental plan and would appreciate any information on which direction to take. There are so many plans to choose from and I am looking but I sure can use some help. I'm open to suggestions and thank you in advance for your input.
@Lindsays Grandma
Do you mean insurance? If not, you can go online and get a good discount dental plan. I use Carington (1Dental). It provides good discounts on all dental procedures. Of course you have to pay the discounted price in cash . . . or get a loan from Care Credit (no finance charge if you pay it off in 24 months), but the final cost is much less than what you may have to pay for an insurance policy which usually has a large deductible and limits how many procedures you can have in one year.

Re the discount plans, you have to find a dentist who also participates in the plan. But more and more of them are doing so. These discount plans are very cheap . . . it costs me $129 a year for me and my daughter. Last year, I saved several thousand dollars and had both my top and bottom bridges replaced. My daughter had work done also.

Just look up "discount dental plans" on Google.

Thanks Lilac Tree. I had Carington a number of years ago, forgot about them. I had an upper bridge put in and it still cost me over four thousand dollars in cash. Hopefully that will not happen again. I'll check out the discount plans.

Re: LOOKING FOR A DENTAL PLAN

Lindsays Grandma — Sat, 14 Oct 2017 03:33:22 GMT

@Shelbelle wrote:
The plan my DH has from Met Life is about $375 per year.

So that breaks down to about $31.25 a month. That is very reasonable and affordable as long as the plan covers a good portion of the charges.

Re: LOOKING FOR A DENTAL PLAN

Lindsays Grandma — Sat, 14 Oct 2017 03:40:25 GMT

@SilleeMee wrote:
I'm retired, 62yo and I just found out that both my dental and health plans will no longer be available next year because of recent changes to ACA where I buy both types of insurance from an exchange. I also will be losing the subsidy which helps pay for a large portion of my premiums so that I could afford the insurance. Looks like now I will be without either. I can't tell you how upsetting today's news has made me. Sorry for the rant.

Don't apologize, you have reason to be upset and rant all you want to. I don't know what and who ACA is and why they are no longer available and I wish you all the best in acquiring reasonable and affordable coverage.

Re: LOOKING FOR A DENTAL PLAN

Lindsays Grandma — Sat, 14 Oct 2017 03:51:11 GMT

@Mary Bailey wrote:
Delta Dental has coverage associated with AARP (through Delta Dental PA) or in some states you can get Delta's Individual plan or a Delta Dental Discount Plan. Also try TruAssure.

Good advise to check waiting periods and exclusions. See if deductible applies to all services or waived on any service. Also check frequencies for exams, cleanings and x-rays.

No matter what insurance/discount plan you take, always ask if they "participate" don't say "do you take ....?" Even non-participating will take the payment from the insurance company. If they don't participate, you don't get a discount.

Thank you so much, very informative. I am taking notes and will definitely remember to use the word "participate"...