What are Senior Dental Savings Plans? 7 Things to Know.

Greg Wilson

Updated on:

What are Senior Dental Savings Plans? 7 Things to Know.

Since Medicare supplement insurance plans don't cover routine dental care facilities, you could choose another option for dental coverage for seniors and boomers to avoid paying out of pocket for expensive procedures. According to an estimate, about 50 million medical care beneficiaries want help paying for their oral and dental procedures.  

Coverage for regular care for your gums and teeth isn't generally included in most medical insurance policies. Unfortunately, the government has very little financial assistance for seniors' dental care for those who cannot afford these services.

 Moreover, there is no coverage for these procedures included in Original Medicare plans; it is by law.

As far as this guide is concerned, the main goal of Senior Affair is to help you identify and decide which dental plan suits your needs.

What Are The Best Dental Plans for Boomers and Seniors?

Most people want to have a single solution for this, but there isn't one. Two factors will weigh heavily on your decision of what plan to choose:

The budget you have: When we retire, for the most part, our income becomes fixed. So, before considering any healthcare policy, you need to consider the following things:

  • Cost of your plan (monthly and annually)
  • The amount you can pay easily for the deductible.

Also, you could end up paying less when you visit the dentist, but you have to pay every month for the policy. As per the calculations, dental insurance will not be a big deal. There is also an alternative to this insurance, and that is the dental discount card. This, not insurance, but it is a plan in which prices or rates are pre-negotiated.

The Need to have Dental Work

The other factor is that how much you need dental work and when needed. If you think that there is a need that you need to visit the dentist, do not wait; show your card and get a saving of up to 20-60%.

There are some options for seniors and have four choices:

  • Paying the total amount each time on every visit to the dentist
  • Joining a Dental Savings Plan & paying up to 20-60% of the total cost
  • Dental insurance limiting the coverage

It is not an intelligent thing to pay the total amount for dental care. If you cannot afford dental insurance, you can enroll yourself in a Dental Saving Plan (DSP). And if you can afford it, then understand the limitations that dental insurances have.

Choosing a Dental Insurance Plan

Dental saving plans are clear and straightforward, but dental insurance is not the same thing. Dental insurance usually contains the limits (lifetime or annual), work class limits, and co-insurances. It's not hard to find the perfect plan for your dental care. Still, it takes some time and research, and it starts with understanding the different policies that the companies offer.

Classification of Dental Insurance Work 

Most dental plans have their coverage divided into various classes, making it easy to understand what is being covered and what isn't. The standard categories or classes are as follows:

Class 1: This is preventive dental care, including the basic dental checkup, cleaning, and radiographic imaging. Most of these plans cover up to 100% of the costs of these procedures.

Class 2: In this case, primary restoration dentistry is done, and it has dental fillings, dental root canals works, and other oral work. Mostly these plans cover up to 80% of the expenses of these procedures.

Class 3: Basically, this is a primary restorative dental care most needed by seniors and boomers and includes the bridges, crowns, fillings, and denatures. Some of the plans cover up to 50%, while some plans do not cover it.

Class 4: This includes orthodontic services, implants, braces, and pulling out of teeth. Some plans cover only a fraction of the total cost of these procedures.

Compare Prices and Coverage

It would be best if you compared the various plans to get the best policy. If you want the best plan, focus on the coverage and cost of visiting the doctor and hospital. 

Research Your Local Networks

When you decide on the plan that you want, reach out to your local dentist to see if they will accept it or not. Because dental insurance is not universal, your dentist may not accept the plan. So you may want to verify with him first before switching to any particular dental plan. 

Read the Fine Print

Every insurance plan related to dental health is different because these are not as standardized as the Medicare plans are. Hence, it's critical that you thoroughly read the terms and conditions of the coverage and fully understand what the programs are offering. Moreover, it is also essential to understand the limitations that a policy has.

Medicare Advantage Plan Dental Options

A few national Medicare Advantage plans and a growing number of regional plans offer dental coverage. It's most commonly found in HMO and PPO plans as an option, with a corresponding uplift in your monthly premium.

Other Available Resources:

There are specific clinics that will see them for seniors and boomers who can't afford insurance and cannot pay but still need dental care services.

  • Medicaid: In some areas, Medicaid usually supports some dental services; to qualify for Medicaid, your income must be lower than the primary poverty line.
  • Cheap or Free Clinics: There are some dental clinics in many states, mainly in the rural areas, that offer the subsidized or free dental services.
  • Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs): These also offer care to seniors. These are clinics usually located in less developed areas. Individuals having the basics Medicare advantages are eligible for services from them.
  • Community Health Centers: – These institutions are funded by private agencies or government administrations like the Health Resources and Services Administration. They provide cheaper or free dental care services.
  • Dental Schools: These also provide cheaper dental care services by the students, but the licensed dentists strictly supervise these.

DentalPlans.com happens to be one of these companies that offers dental savings plans. This would be considered a savings plan which is NOT insurance. The discounts only apply to dentists who participate in the program. If you want to check if your provider participates, you can check it here.

There is no paperwork or reimbursement; you still have to pay for the service when it's provided; you will recieve a discount off the provider's usual or customary fees when you pay. We encourage you to check with your provider before getting treatment. Not all plans are offered in every market.

Senior Affair “the Internet Affiliate”) is an independent contractor for Dentalplans.com, Inc., and provides internet affiliate services via the internet. They may earn financial compensation from Dentalplans.com, Inc.

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