Welcome to BabyDental.com, where we delve into things related to dental care for babies and young children. Today, we will explore the topic of individual PPO and HMO dental insurance plans and whether they are worth purchasing. Join us as we delve into the details and consider the factors that can help you make an informed decision about dental insurance for yourself or your little ones. Let’s dive right in!

Are Individual PPO Dental Insurance Plans worth buying?

Some people may feel dental insurance is not worth the plan’s cost. That may be true for some dental insurance plans if the person wanting it wants the dental insurance for short-term use. Many people put off their dental care until they are in pain or have significant dental issues. Then, they get upset when they find out that many PPOs or Indemnity insurance plans have limitations that will not be able to help them with their major dental care needs immediately.

A dental PPO plan is not for those who only want to buy a dental insurance plan to fix a current dental issue and then turn around and cancel the plan once they have their dental work done. The reason is that dental PPOs are designed to be long-term plans and not short-term ones. When considering buying a dental PPO or Indemnity plan, the thing to keep in mind is your long-term dental needs. When getting these types of insurance plans, it is a dental plan you want to keep for at least a few years.

Understanding Dental Insurance.

I need to understand how dental insurance works. I have a dental insurance PPO plan through my job, but it could be better. I am considering removing it and getting just the medical. Why have dental insurance if you have to pay the dentist?

Reply: Medical insurance has a cost paid out by the insured as well. Dental insurance is designed to make dental care more affordable, not free. You may not think dental care without insurance is so bad, but I want to give you an example of how HMO dental insurance is worth the cost, even in preventive care. Say all you need is preventative care. Without insurance, preventive care costs (Office visits, Bite-wing X-rays, Oral Exam, and Basic Cleaning) can range around $200 – $400, keeping in mind most low-cost HMO plans range from $8.00 to $20.00 a month with preventive care typical being free. More extensive dental care services become expensive when you don’t have dental insurance.

Dental PPO plans let you choose your dentist.

Dental PPOs and Indemnity plans allow you to choose your dentist, and for many people, that can be a deciding factor in buying those types of dental insurance plans. For people who want to stay with their current dentist or to be able to choose their dental provider, these types of insurance plans allow for that. Dental PPO and Indemnity plans are usually more costly than HMO’s dental insurance plans. Are dental PPOs and Indemnity insurance plans worth the cost? The answer is yes. If you know your dental needs and understand the terms and conditions of the insurance plan, many people are happy with their PPO plans. Trouble comes when you fully understand the dental insurance plan’s limitations.