The Importance of Having Dental Insurance Dental insurance is something that many people choose to opt out of simply due to the fact that it is more money out of their paychecks every single month. Others, who may not have insurance provided to them through their employers definitely struggle to afford the steeper premiums that come with private insurance. Yet, every single person who has had to pay out of pocket for dental work can tell you how much cheaper it would have been for them to simply pay for the insurance. Let’s take a look at dental insurance and consider some options for making it affordable.
New Laws First, it is important to understand how dental coverage fits into the new Affordable Care Act that has gone into effect with the New Year. Adults are not required to carry dental coverage for themselves, but by law it is required for children to have coverage through the age of 19. The specific details of these laws and how they are implemented will differ from state to state and you can find more information through your state’s insurance resource websites. Dental coverage for adults is something you have to opt into as it will not be automatically provided under the basic ACA health plans.
Why Pay for Dental Insurance? Your insurance premiums, while they may be expensive, will not be more than the cost of most dental procedures. Paying out of pocket for regular visits, a few x-rays, and a filling or two can cost you upwards of $500. An individual dental plan may be as much as $400 per year. Most dental plans cover you for up to $1000 or $1,500 of work per year and the work done for most people annually falls well within that range. For people who may require work exceeding $1,500, you may be able to negotiate more coverage, but the price of your premiums will increase. At the end of the day, the hundreds of dollars that you pay each year for a dental insurance plan are much cheaper than the thousands of dollars you would be paying without a dental plan.
Health Benefits of Dental Insurance Cost benefits aside, there are some significant health benefits to carrying dental insurance for you and your family. People who have dental insurance are significantly more likely to regularly visit their dentist and maintain a healthy level of oral hygiene. Conversely, those who don’t have insurance may not visit and could experience health complications as a result of poor oral hygiene. Recent studies have begun to discover significant links between oral hygiene and things like headaches, stomach cramps, fatigue, and more. Ultimately, the choice is yours, but before you decide to not pay for dental insurance, you should research your options and speak to an insurance agent to see how much you would actually pay for the policy. Insurance Center Associates is an insurance provider that offers a variety of insurance such as dental insurance as well as auto insurance in San Pedro and provides for the surrounding area. Give us a call or visit our website today for a quote on your next health insurance or car insurance policy.