My dh's company does not offer dental insurance. We have been paying for all dental visits from our flex spending plan (out of pocket by not taxed). I am wondering if we would benefit from purchasing our own dental insurance??? Does anyone have any experience with this and/or know where I could go to compare different plans?

By Pamt on Wednesday, June 29, 2005 - 05:27 pm:

We didn't have dental insurance for a period of about 6 years. I've haven't had a cavity in over 20 years and no other problems with my teeth, except in that interim I had a tooth crack and had to get an $800+ crown. Now, esp. with kids, we definitely benefit from insurance. It will be all the more handy when it comes time for braces. We have always gotten dental through my job. I'd just google and do a web search for different plans.

By Sunny on Wednesday, June 29, 2005 - 05:36 pm:

Aflac has dental plans. Either ask your Dh to ask about it through work or see if you can get an individual plan.
When my Dh's work stopped paying for dental insurance a few years ago, we took out a policy through Aflac. I don't recall all of the benefits off-hand, but I believe we are reimbursed $50 for every cleaning (which isn't bad considering each cleaning is around $90) It's worth looking into.

By Jann on Wednesday, June 29, 2005 - 06:46 pm:

We have to self insure. From what I have found out, finding your own dental insurance is great for check ups, but barely covers things like braces, fillings ect.

By Karen~moderator on Thursday, June 30, 2005 - 08:01 am:

I never had dental insurance until last year, my company picked up a dental policy through Broker's National, the coverage isn't much though, and there is more on the 2nd and 3rd years of coverage. I think it paid a max of $750, which I used up the very first time I used it, for a root canal. Barring major dental procedures, it pays for cleanings and 50% of fillings, etc., UP TO $750 annually.

By Babysitbarb on Friday, July 1, 2005 - 09:24 am:

Wow, and I have complained about my Dh's dental insurance.
His covers 2 free cleaning a year per family member but, is reall funny about the floride rinces. The pay 50% on most dental work and x-rays and absolutly nothing on ortho work.I thinkwe have to only have x-rays only once a year to have them pay on them. Our dental office is good about making sure it's not any sooner.
Our oldest daughter has had exspanders, braces and another spacer and they paid nothing on it. Thank goodness we have the flex spending plan.

By Mommmie on Friday, July 1, 2005 - 10:46 am:

Dental insurance is often times not that great. Insurance plans need healthy people to pay in, but then not to use it so it can support the sick people. The deal with dental plans is people only jump onto one when they foresee needed dental work and then drop it once the work is done. There are not a bunch of people paying into dental who are not using it.

My son and I are on my employers group dental plan this year for the first time. It costs me $950/year in premiums, pays for 2 cleanings for each of us, yearly x-rays, sealants and 50-80% of other work, up to $1500 each. No ortho. If we only use the cleanings, I lose money, bec out of pocket that would only cost me $500.

Last year, without coverage, I needed a root canal and my son had a couple of fillings. I paid about $2500 for that, plus $500 in cleanings. I would have been better off having insurance last year (even with paying $950/year for it). So, I got in it for this coming year.