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Dental Insurance not from an employer?

Posted on 4/15/25 at 8:10 pm
Posted by Fishwater
Carcosa
Member since Aug 2010
6023 posts
Posted on 4/15/25 at 8:10 pm
Those of you who work for yourself and do not have dental insurance through your spouse, where do you have your dental insurance through?

Marketplace?
Posted by greenbean
USAF Retired - 31 years
Member since Feb 2019
6060 posts
Posted on 4/15/25 at 8:13 pm to
I'm 60 and have never paid for dental or vision insurance. I'd closely look at the polices and run the numbers vs being self insured.
Posted by Lawyered
The Sip
Member since Oct 2016
36864 posts
Posted on 4/15/25 at 8:13 pm to
$20 monthly for Cigna dental plan

Posted by Bamamojo
Member since Sep 2010
752 posts
Posted on 4/15/25 at 8:18 pm to
USAA if you are a veteran/family member.
Posted by BeauxNArreaux
Tennessee
Member since Jun 2016
795 posts
Posted on 4/15/25 at 8:20 pm to
Dentist here— it’s pretty uncommon that a self-paid plan is worth it. You typically either get a cheap plan that doesn’t cover much or an expensive plan that you’ll rarely get full value from.
Most of the time you’re best off to self pay.
Many offices will give an in house membership plan, or if you have a bigger cost treatment, a percentage cash discount when paid in full.
Posted by selfgen
youngsville
Member since Aug 2006
1157 posts
Posted on 4/15/25 at 8:29 pm to
quote:

Dentist here— it’s pretty uncommon that a self-paid plan is worth it. You typically either get a cheap plan that doesn’t cover much or an expensive plan that you’ll rarely get full value from. Most of the time you’re best off to self pay. Many offices will give an in house membership plan, or if you have a bigger cost treatment, a percentage cash discount when paid in full.


Insurance agent here. He’s right. People are always asking me for dental insurance. I tell them I have plenty of plans that I can show them, but they’re not any good. A typical plan pays a maximum of $1000 or $1500. You can increase the max with some companies, but as he said, it’s not cost effective

Posted by DennisQuaid
Member since Nov 2023
323 posts
Posted on 4/15/25 at 8:48 pm to
Yeah. Also a dentist and dental insurance sucks. Just self-pay.
Posted by ImJustaBoy
Member since Oct 2023
1854 posts
Posted on 4/15/25 at 9:03 pm to
Most alumni associations have dental plans. I have mine with MetLife through my alumni association. It’s called the Alumni Insurance Program. I know for sure LSU and ULL alumni qualify, I pay $47 a month and just got my bottom wisdom teeth removed by an oral surgeon for only $238 using it.
This post was edited on 4/15/25 at 9:07 pm
Posted by Tigerfan4545
Member since Oct 2024
208 posts
Posted on 4/15/25 at 9:30 pm to
There are a handful of companies that have an annual cap of 5k. Always use a plan with network providers as pricing is predetermined. Avoid the usual and customary bit from the insurance company. Don’t wait until you need dental work to buy as most give no coverage for anything classified as Major services…ie crowns, bridges, root canal, etc….for the first year. I know of one the will give you reduced coverage for major year one then ups it to 50% year 2. …..What you spend out of pocket (self insure) and the cost of insurance when it come to cleanings and X-rays will be a wash. Having the right insurance plan will benefit you if something else happens.
Posted by TigrrrDad
Member since Oct 2016
7906 posts
Posted on 4/15/25 at 11:13 pm to
Cheaper to buy a toothbrush.
And some floss.
Posted by Spankum
Miss-sippi
Member since Jan 2007
60304 posts
Posted on 4/15/25 at 11:33 pm to
quote:

What you spend out of pocket (self insure) and the cost of insurance when it come to cleanings and X-rays will be a wash. Having the right insurance plan will benefit you if something else happens.



Agree completely with this. I am blessed to have good teeth. As a result, I spend about the same amount on insurance as I would spend on cleaning and x-rays every year.

For the finances to work out this way must mean a heck of a lot of folks must have dental insurance, but still don’t go for the preventative care.
Posted by Gorilla Ball
Az
Member since Feb 2006
12784 posts
Posted on 4/16/25 at 2:45 am to
I’m retired and the cost of the insurance vs the cost of cleaning was ridiculous. I decided to self insure
Posted by Woolfpack
Member since Jun 2021
1461 posts
Posted on 4/16/25 at 4:11 am to
Bumps
This post was edited on 6/21/25 at 8:51 am
Posted by Tigahs24Seven
Charlie Kirk's America
Member since Nov 2007
14379 posts
Posted on 4/16/25 at 4:18 am to
quote:

Yeah. Also a dentist and dental insurance sucks. Just self-pay


DennisQuaid.....you missed the boat on that username.....DentistQuaid.
Posted by baldona
Florida
Member since Feb 2016
23301 posts
Posted on 4/16/25 at 4:33 am to
My “in house insurance” plan through my local Dentist is $400/ year I think. That includes 2 cleanings, X-rays, fluoride, and 10% off major work. That’s $33/ month.

I can’t find dental insurance for under $40-50/ month and that all includes a co pay or something else out of pocket.
Posted by Hondo Blacksheep
Member since Jul 2022
2941 posts
Posted on 4/16/25 at 4:36 am to
I have both but on balance neither are great value propositions.
Posted by Tigerstark
Parts unknown
Member since Aug 2011
6838 posts
Posted on 4/16/25 at 5:36 am to
A personal policy is generally not worth it. The terms aren’t nearly as good as an employer plan. I used to be own one and the math was never in my favor.

Is there an association or affiliation group you are part of that has a plan?
Posted by Woolfpack
Member since Jun 2021
1461 posts
Posted on 4/16/25 at 8:52 am to
Bumpm
This post was edited on 6/21/25 at 8:48 am
Posted by ChatGPT of LA
Member since Mar 2023
4141 posts
Posted on 4/16/25 at 9:51 am to
quote:

removed by an oral surgeon for only $238 using it.


No. You paid 238 plus however many months of $47 payments you have and will pay.
I would imagine you had a minimum of 6 mos waiting period before using. Most major procedures is usually 1yr wait.
Posted by AwgustaDawg
CSRA
Member since Jan 2023
13173 posts
Posted on 4/16/25 at 10:21 am to
How basic dental care is not considered part of basic health care is a mystery. It is only a mystery in the United States though LOL....

My 85 year old father was just diagnosed with throat cancer. Before treatment can be started he had to have a dental evaluation...he had just had a cleaning in November and had a clean bill of dental health. Before he could get the required evaluation they had to do a periodontal cleaning despite no indication that it was necessary in November....again, he had excellent dental health in November for a 84 year old at the time. After the deep cleaning they did the evaluation and he had 5 teeth which were suspect and may not survive radiation treatment...so they had to be extracted. It has been almost impossible to get either his health insurance or dental insurance to pay for any of this....they have finally agreed that it would be paid by his health insurance but only after about 10 hours of debate by phone spread out over 2 months now. He is still waiting to be treated for cancer but by damn his dental health is near about perfect at the moment.
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