If so who do you use?

8/21/2006 4:00:05 PM

yeah I'd like to know about Dental and Medical insurance if anyone buys their own.

8/21/2006 4:08:39 PM

i guess ill take that as a no

8/22/2006 12:08:19 AM

I have Delta Dental through my work, but no I dont buy my own sorry

8/22/2006 9:25:08 AM

Dental insurance is never worth it unless you are getting it for free through work. Most only cover up to 50%, have extended non-coverage periods, and charge $20-$30 a month so you pay more than enough to cover cleanings and the occasional filling. If you expect significant dental bills in the near future then look into the discount plans, like Aetna. They have a relatively cheap fee and it gives something like 15-20% off a dentist's standard rate.

As for health insurance: BCBS all the way.

8/22/2006 9:30:42 AM

bcbs dental you get 2 free cleanings a year but if thats all you normally hit the dentist for, its cheaper to pay out of pocket than to pay insurance.

8/22/2006 9:34:27 AM

I disagree...

Dental insurance is worth a lot in my book. This year I've spent over $1800 on unexpected dental work (wisdom tooth and cavity). I had basic dental insurance through my work, but it only covered the little stuff like cleaning.

Get examined and if it looks like you're going to need a lot of work done, then go for the full coverage dental insurance. Life insurance isn't worth it at 18 years old. But, it's definately worth it when you know the reaper is coming for you(or your teeth).

P.S. You don't have to worry about your teeth if you're name is Jethro or Mary Lou.

8/22/2006 10:11:19 AM

^^^agreed

I had full dental coverage (work paid for most of it) and basically only saved under $30 in one year. I had spent about $800 in a year for fillings/cleanings and what not. As for stuff over $1800 you need to check the yearly/6mo limit. A lot of "full coverage" dental plans have a maximum amount they will spend in a certain time period.

I haven't worked the numbers but I would have to agree that unless work is paying for it it is not worth it.

-on a side note
I wish doctors would be more reasonable in their cost. Then I wouldn't need insurance (except for major stuff) and the doctors would probably get paid more anyway instead of being forced to participate in an HMO in order to get more patients and having the HMO stiff them on their rates.

I am getting shafted the doctors are getting shafted and the only one making serious money is the insurance company.

8/22/2006 11:16:30 AM

Most dental plans have either a 12 month or even 18 month grace period will they will not cover anything... so odds are you are going to pay enough in your premium (plus co-pay) to have simply paid cash in the first place. Heck, for the State its about $17 biweekly (making it almnost $450 a year strictly in the premium). Yearly cleanings come to about $150 for both so that is $300 you are losing every year that you dont have any dental problems (the majority of the years one would hope). When you factor in that they don't cover 100% of other procedures anyways you definitely are not coming out ahead. You are better dumping that same amount of money into a high interest savings account, CD, whatever and using it if you ever have serious dental work needed... if not then you have enough for a pretty kickass vacation every few years.

At least with the dental discount programs (like Aetna Dental Access) you pay a smaller yearly fee (like under $100) and there is a percentage taken off of all the different procedures AND there is no grace period with no benefit coverage.

8/22/2006 11:24:37 AM

I looked into BCBS Dental. It was a 6 month period before major work could be covered. I was estimated at 40$ a month, but i am sure that would have gone up. I have also had my wisdom teeth out.

I paid out of pocket for 2 fillings, big time x rays and a cleaning last month. It was only around $400.

8/22/2006 8:11:11 PM

DENTAL PLAN

8/22/2006 11:07:12 PM

Quote :

"I have Delta Dental through my work, but no I dont buy my own sorry"

essentially, me too

(not delta though)

apparently i grind my teeth, this will cover it and pay for another thing i have to get done

ill bump down coverage next year

8/23/2006 8:25:16 AM

I have dental blue. It is cheap enough to be worth it I think. mine is like 39/month. I just had over 1k in work covered plus they pay for all of your cleanings.

8/23/2006 8:27:30 AM

Quote :

"Most dental plans have either a 12 month or even 18 month grace period will they will not cover anything... "

most of the policies ive read over only have a 6 month grace period and a 12 month period for major procedures (i think its actually called an elimination periods tho, or waiting periods. grace period makes it sound like its good for the consumer...which its not)

Quote :

"I just had over 1k in work covered plus they pay for all of your cleanings. "

Well they only cover $1K in services over the course of a year so you're saying you used the policy to the max then. http://www.bcbsnc.com/plans/dentalblue/individuals2.cfm

8/23/2006 10:54:51 AM

well i just bought cancer insurance...how bout that

8/23/2006 11:17:38 AM

HA i made an acquisition of a STD insurance plan, sure i may pay alot but im protected!~

8/23/2006 12:08:48 PM

Quote :

"I have dental blue. It is cheap enough to be worth it I think. mine is like 39/month. I just had over 1k in work covered plus they pay for all of your cleanings."

going by that^^^ it looks like you might have lost money.

premium (yearly): $468

50% paid by BCBS for Basic and Major services
80% paid by BCBS for Preventive services (incl. your routine oral exams)

So they paid around half of your $1000 worth of services (except x-rays etc..).
You Saved about ($500 - $75/visit deductible)

On top of that you have spent more than your yearly limit, so everything else is out-of-pocket.

I am curious to see if you really calculated your savings (if any) and what they were exactly.

--------------

Quote :

"You are better dumping that same amount of money into a high interest savings account, CD, whatever and using it if you ever have serious dental work needed... i"

So true. I also have tax-free medical savings plan but I haven't looked into it yet.

8/23/2006 12:41:10 PM

^^^^ grace periods typically refer to when an insured is late on a premium payment, they are allowed a certain number of days to make the payment before the policy lapses.

elimination periods typically refer to how long you must wait after the policy begins to receive all or part of your benefits.

8/23/2006 12:49:50 PM

Quote :

"So true. I also have tax-free medical savings plan but I haven't looked into it yet."

HSA

8/23/2006 1:02:33 PM

Quote :

"DENTAL PLAN"

LISA NEEDS BRACES

8/23/2006 8:40:38 PM

Everyone else is a retard for not picking that up.

8/23/2006 9:11:50 PM

Quote :

"elimination periods typically refer to how long you must wait after the policy begins to receive all or part of your benefits. "

which is what i said...

8/23/2006 9:18:01 PM

i was clarifying for the guy who said grace period, and anyone else who might mix those terms up when reading a potential policy. didnt mean to sound like i was calling you out on a mistake.

8/23/2006 10:01:23 PM

Wisdom teeth are not unexpected dental work.

8/24/2006 2:24:56 AM

ended up getting the aetna dental access plan thru dentalplans.com. its a discount plan, not an insurance plan (basically you pay the ppo rates as a cash customer)

i would have considered an insurance plan, but the 6 month hold on services wouldnt work for me.

i've saved about $200 (not counting the $99 program fee) and i've still got 12 months of coverage so it worked out pretty well.

9/27/2006 1:49:50 AM

how much does it cost to have all of your wisdom teeth removed?

i'm probably going to be planning on getting this done next summer sometime

9/27/2006 2:16:21 AM

From most of heard its usually about $350 per par of wisdom teeth and in the $600's for all 4.

9/27/2006 10:22:46 AM