Among Friends

[LexaMom]

My company offered me the same dental coverage I had as an employee with MetLife.  I contribute $16 a month, and they pay $20 a month.   It covers cleanings twice a year (I pay a third out of pocket),  x-rays,  most of restorations after a deductible,  and half of crownwork.   I have had almost all of my gold crowns replaced, so that is still costing me a lot but I'm fortunate to have half covered.

[haddon9]

No dental coverage here...I just had a root canal redo (I don't need a new crown thank goodness!!!) and it cost me $1500.00 ....ugh!

[haddon9]

---

@ID2 wrote:

Wow, I'm shocked at those that are living life on the dangerous side! I would never live without insurance! I'm turning 65 next month and am deep in looking into all the health plans out there for Medicare. I don't have dental issues but picked a plan that will be well-worth $23/month. Who on earth wouldn't pay $23/month for dental coverage?? I just feel many are not looking past today.

---

@ID2 . Because it usually doesn't cover much.  Is your insurance covering root canals, crowns, implants,etc. in addition to regular cleanings?  If it is I would love to know what insurance you have and will look into it for myself.

Thanks!

[Tabbycat]

DH retired a year and a half ago and no more dental plan here. Fortunately, we have had good dental visits for the last 17 years, but we are getting older. We will probably just pay as we go from here on out. 

Instead of twice a year cleanings and paid x-rays, we do annual cleanings and x-rays every two years.

Last week I went in for my annual cleaning and x-rays, the cost was $244. I live in central NC.

[Bird mama]

@Mary Bailey  Dental and vision services are considered 'excepted benefits'.  The HIPAA provisions that give a person credit for continued coverage do not apply to dental and vision benefits.  It doesn't matter if the member continued coverage with COBRA or not.

As a retiree of BCBSM who has maintained non stop dental and vision coverage for nearly 40 years, it sticks in my craw considerably that effective November 2019, when my COBRA runs out, I will be subject to waiting periods (different depending on service being performed).

[Mary Bailey]

@Bird mama  at the ins co that I work for, the individual coverage has to start within 60 days of the group/cobra coverage to have waiting periods waived.  (cobra is considered group coverage)

If switching from one ins co (under group/cobra) then going to a different company for individual coverage, the individual plan may not give credit for credible coverage and then the waiting periods would apply.  Rules/laws may vary from state to state and from insurance company to insurance company.

[Mary Bailey]

@SeaMaiden  individual plans are usually much different than the group/cobra plan.  Ask the insurance company how the dentist participates under your individual plan.  Ask what is not covered under your individual plan, have the  dentist do pre-determinations before you get major (crowns/root canals etc)  or even basic services (fillings/simple extractions).  I don't like having to tell people after the service the dentist or procedure isn't covered.

[LTT1]

@ahoymate

Forgive me for just seeing this now.

My Cigna dental care policy covers 2 cleanings per year; x rays once every two years; crowns, fillings at 50% coverage (I need to check on this part). 

The CIGNA coverage, just like any dental insurance, covers typical preventive tooth maintenance @100%, but restorative work at a much lower %. 

Implants are not covered, but I believe bridges are...at the lower percent.

[LTT1]

@bluehost@SeaMaiden

I forgot to add that because I hadn’t taken care of my teeth for two years, during the month of December I went in every Friday for teeth to be filled in. ugh

There was a deductible which we met and went over (we made an informed decision to do this).

[Bird mama]

@Mary Bailey  I agree with you when it comes to insurance that covers medical conditions.  PPACA removed pre existing restrictions and I don't know what components of PPACA might have been rolled back since it's implementation on 1-1-2014.

I don't know how long this link will remain.  Here are the final rules that were published 10-1-14.  It describes changes and 'excepted benefits'

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2014/10/01/2014-23323/amendments-to-excepted-benefits