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Dental Insurance not from an employer?
Posted on 4/15/25 at 8:10 pm
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?
Marketplace?
Posted on 4/15/25 at 8:13 pm to Fishwater
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 on 4/15/25 at 8:13 pm to Fishwater
$20 monthly for Cigna dental plan
Posted on 4/15/25 at 8:18 pm to Fishwater
USAA if you are a veteran/family member.
Posted on 4/15/25 at 8:20 pm to Fishwater
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.
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 on 4/15/25 at 8:29 pm to BeauxNArreaux
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 on 4/15/25 at 8:48 pm to Fishwater
Yeah. Also a dentist and dental insurance sucks. Just self-pay.
Posted on 4/15/25 at 9:03 pm to Fishwater
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 on 4/15/25 at 9:30 pm to Fishwater
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 on 4/15/25 at 11:13 pm to Fishwater
Cheaper to buy a toothbrush.
And some floss.
And some floss.
Posted on 4/15/25 at 11:33 pm to Tigerfan4545
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 on 4/16/25 at 2:45 am to Fishwater
I’m retired and the cost of the insurance vs the cost of cleaning was ridiculous. I decided to self insure
Posted on 4/16/25 at 4:11 am to Fishwater
Bumps
This post was edited on 6/21/25 at 8:51 am
Posted on 4/16/25 at 4:18 am to DennisQuaid
quote:
Yeah. Also a dentist and dental insurance sucks. Just self-pay
DennisQuaid.....you missed the boat on that username.....DentistQuaid.
Posted on 4/16/25 at 4:33 am to Woolfpack
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.
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 on 4/16/25 at 4:36 am to greenbean
I have both but on balance neither are great value propositions.
Posted on 4/16/25 at 5:36 am to Fishwater
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?
Is there an association or affiliation group you are part of that has a plan?
Posted on 4/16/25 at 8:52 am to baldona
Bumpm
This post was edited on 6/21/25 at 8:48 am
Posted on 4/16/25 at 9:51 am to ImJustaBoy
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 on 4/16/25 at 10:21 am to BeauxNArreaux
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.
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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