Dental Savings Plans vs. Dental Insurance

Dental Savings Plans vs. Dental Insurance

If you are looking into dental health care coverage options, the two you have probably run across are savings plans and insurance. Both of these options can help you save after a trip to the dentist — it’s only a matter of which one is right for your needs.

What Are Dental Savings Plans?

Dental savings plans are membership programs with discounts on dental care from participating dentists. These are ideal if you know you need extensive dental work done, as they can save you more than their membership fees each year.

Here’s how they work:

1. Find a plan based on what dental service you need or if the plan can cover your whole family.
2. Purchase the plan’s annual fee.
3. Schedule your appointment with the plan’s in-network dentists.
4. Let the dentist’s office know about your savings plan, and they’ll charge a discounted rate.
5. Pay the remaining service fee out of pocket.

What Is Traditional Dental Insurance?

Traditional dental insurance plans are when an insurance company pays for your dental services in full or partial amounts. The exact plan you choose will determine what services or procedures they will cover — however, most insurance plans will take care of preventive care cleanings or exams.

As the insurance holder, you will have to pay a monthly fee to stay enrolled. Most insurance plans also come with a deductible or copay. A deductible is a fixed amount you need to reach out of pocket before the insurance takes over. A copay is a small portion of the cost the insurance holder pays for treatment.

Like dental savings plans, most insurance providers will only cover costs for services at participating dental offices.

Primary Differences Between Dental Savings Plans and Insurance

Here, we’ve outlined some of the primary differences between the two:

• Coverage cost: Dental savings plans require an annual fee, while dental insurance is a monthly premium.
• Annual limits: Dental savings plans have no maximum, while insurance includes an annual maximum it will cover.
• What’s covered: Dental savings plans require some sort of payment, while insurance will almost always cover preventive services and partially cover procedural costs.

Dental Coverage With Health for California

At Health for California, we can help you find the right dental savings or insurance plan for your oral health care needs and budget. Fill out our easy quote form or reach out to learn more about our available plan options.