4 ms·

Are you speaking as a consumer? Dental insurance is really cheap...it's like $300/year. Many employers cover all or most of this cost if you get it through a co

Are you speaking as a consumer? Dental insurance is really cheap...it's like $300/year. Many employers cover all or most of this cost if you get it through a company. If you pay 100% of your premium and have 2 regular cleanings, it's basically a payment plan. If you require any other services (deep cleaning for example) then it would definitely be cheaper to pay for insurance than OOP.

TylerE 9y ago
I'm guessing you're not in the US? Here, the polices have VERY low lifetime caps. One root canal can wipe it out. Other than that, it's basically prepaying for an annual cleaning.
- dawhizkid 9y ago
  Yes I'm in the US. Lifetime caps are generally for ortho and implants. I've not heard of a lifetime cap on root canals but maybe this varies by insurance company. Again, yes if you only get cleanings then it's a payment plan...from a customer POV why would you not prefer a 0% interest payment plan with added protection in case you need literally any other dental service vs paying OOP for 2 cleanings a year?
  - bdcravens 9y ago
    > from a customer POV why would you not prefer a 0% interest payment plan with added protection in case you need literally any other dental service vs paying OOP for 2 cleanings a year? I also see it like retirement savings. You're more likely to forgo the expense if it hasn't already been taken out
- ghaff 9y ago
  It varies. I have calendar year maximums and some other limits but no lifetime maximum. This is US. (ADDED: Oh, right. I think there is an ortho lifetime max.)
- bdcravens 9y ago
  My plan covers basic work (which includes root canals) at 80%, major work (like implants and crowns) at 50%, up to $1500/year. This is at a cost of about $350/year, so it's definitely more than just low-cost cleanings. (I can't find information on limits, but I'm not sure they apply, since I pay any amount over the 80% or $1500 a year)
  - nickjj 9y ago
    The problem with major work is it's substantially more than $1,500. A single dental implant from end to end in the US is usually in the $4,000 to $5,000 range.
    - bdcravens 9y ago
      Of course. Unless you get a discount for not having insurance, that's $1500 (minus annual premiums) less than you would have spent.
    - pravda 9y ago
      >A single dental implant from end to end in the US is usually in the $4,000 to $5,000 range. Huh? It is much cheaper then that. About half that.
      - nickjj 9y ago
        That includes both the surgery and the crown. A Lot of places quote $4,000 as being the average. I'm sure you could get it cheaper if you went to a University. Keep in mind those prices don't include additional things like extracting your original tooth, bone grafting if you happen to need it, or getting sedated (because who would want to go through that with just novocain). It can get really expensive.

TylerE 9y ago

I'm guessing you're not in the US? Here, the polices have VERY low lifetime caps. One root canal can wipe it out. Other than that, it's basically prepaying for an annual cleaning.

dawhizkid 9y ago
Yes I'm in the US. Lifetime caps are generally for ortho and implants. I've not heard of a lifetime cap on root canals but maybe this varies by insurance company. Again, yes if you only get cleanings then it's a payment plan...from a customer POV why would you not prefer a 0% interest payment plan with added protection in case you need literally any other dental service vs paying OOP for 2 cleanings a year?
- bdcravens 9y ago
  > from a customer POV why would you not prefer a 0% interest payment plan with added protection in case you need literally any other dental service vs paying OOP for 2 cleanings a year? I also see it like retirement savings. You're more likely to forgo the expense if it hasn't already been taken out
ghaff 9y ago
It varies. I have calendar year maximums and some other limits but no lifetime maximum. This is US. (ADDED: Oh, right. I think there is an ortho lifetime max.)
bdcravens 9y ago
My plan covers basic work (which includes root canals) at 80%, major work (like implants and crowns) at 50%, up to $1500/year. This is at a cost of about $350/year, so it's definitely more than just low-cost cleanings. (I can't find information on limits, but I'm not sure they apply, since I pay any amount over the 80% or $1500 a year)
- nickjj 9y ago
  The problem with major work is it's substantially more than $1,500. A single dental implant from end to end in the US is usually in the $4,000 to $5,000 range.
  - bdcravens 9y ago
    Of course. Unless you get a discount for not having insurance, that's $1500 (minus annual premiums) less than you would have spent.
  - pravda 9y ago
    >A single dental implant from end to end in the US is usually in the $4,000 to $5,000 range. Huh? It is much cheaper then that. About half that.
    - nickjj 9y ago
      That includes both the surgery and the crown. A Lot of places quote $4,000 as being the average. I'm sure you could get it cheaper if you went to a University. Keep in mind those prices don't include additional things like extracting your original tooth, bone grafting if you happen to need it, or getting sedated (because who would want to go through that with just novocain). It can get really expensive.