Dental Discount Plans v. Dental Insurance?

As you noted, this all depends on the area you live, but those online 'hints' you noticed seem to hold true for many of the plans people tell me about, however ddp's can also be a real bargain and provide a good service. You could ask to see a company's list of dentists and check out a few of the offices before hand.

If you do sign up for the ddp, get suspicious if there is a lot of 'up-selling' of treatment that is not covered by the plan, and will wind up costing you as much as with ppo insurance, or more. Of course, up-selling can happen anywhere, but it seems to be more common with ddp's because the company's negotiated reimbursement from the insurance company for each procedure is lower.

Another issue with ddp's is that there is significant turnover of employee dentists and you may not get the same dentist every time, or the dentists you do get may be novices. This can be good or bad. I have a bias in thinking that a dentist who is able to follow a patient over time can provide superior continuity of care: that s/he has a better understanding of the patient's condition when observed over time, and that a dentist who can follow his/her own "work" over time has a better appreciation for what works or doesn't work in his/her own hands and for a specific patient. Also, a big portion of oral health involves preventive strategies, which are best communicated when there is an established relationship to build on between patient and health care provider.

I personally use a ddp because of the low premiums and the no limits on visits and services. And not to mention with most of the ddp's you will receive other discount benefits like rx, vision and chiropractic services. I've never had a problem with the services I receive from the dentist or the staff. The service was great.

I think you should try a ddp, because they have no contracts to sign and if your not happy you can cancel your membership at any time unlike dental insurance.

you won't be able to use it alongside along with your customary coverage. they could no longer additionally be commonly used on the comparable companies. despite in the event that they are commonly used on the comparable companies, certainly one of two circumstances applies: a) it could be pointless, if the coverage corporation has negotiated to get each and every physique using the coverage the comparable "decrease value" using fact the decrease value plan gives you. The term "decrease value" is deceptive. It ability basically which you pay decrease than "finished" value. It does no longer advise which you pay decrease than different clientele. There won't be absolutely everyone paying "finished" value. The discounted value ought to be the popular value. b) the decrease value is extremely a chit for no longer making the service circulate interior the path of the artwork of doing the coverage workplace work, which could be as much as 0.5 of their expenses. they actually do no longer care no count in case you have the decrease value plan or no longer, and could supply the decrease value to absolutely everyone who does no longer cause them to do any coverage varieties. in case you employ the customary coverage, then they could desire to handle the coverage workplace work, so they gained't supply you any savings, different than those required by using the customary coverage.