Friday, February 6, 2009

Dental Insurance: What Really Is Important

By Nathan D. Kopeck

Most of us hate going to the dentist not only because we know it's going to hurt physically, but also because we know it's going to hurt in the pocket. This is why having dental insurance is important: you can get dental care without it burning a hole in your pocket. There are hundreds of online resources to help you find the dental plan that suits you best. Take care of it now because the longer you put it off, the worse it's going to get.

Before you turn to any other resource, check with your employer to see if dental insurance coverage is included in your health insurance or if it can be added if it isn't. If the answer is yes, then it's your best option. You'll be able to pay for it the same way you do your health insurance, so there are no worries in that department. Sometimes, though, if it's obvious you'll need to have a lot of work done, the policy may not cover you. If that happens, you'll have no choice but to get a separate dental plan so you can still be able to save some money on your dental bill.

The recent evolution of the financial industry (which includes the insurance industry) means that you can now sit comfortably at home or at the office and compare plans and quotes from several different companies so that you can choose the one that fits you best. This ease of access also means more competition between the companies to get your business, which means that you win, as a customer. Your biggest challenge will be to adequately match your needs (coverage) and your budget (premiums). Pay attention to the following.

Reasonable premiums. Nobody likes to overpay. So why not take advantage of the internet to fine-tune your comparison-shopping? Pick identical (or near identical) plans from the different companies that are available to you and then review them according to the prices they charge. Doing this will most likely result in you selecting a plan that offers the best bang for your buck.

Preventive dental care. A good dental plan not only insures you for costs related to going to the dentist, but it also provides coverage for stuff that prevents major problems as well. Such stuff includes, but are not limited to, x-rays, regular cleanings, and free check-ups. Not only do those measures allow you to have better overall dental health, but they also save the insurance company money because they decrease the likelihood of you have to undergo something major.

Company background. There are a number of things related to the company that are worth being checked out because they might turn out to be critical down the road. For example, has the company made headlines lately? Good or bad? Is there some way to assess the company's financial soundness? No one want to get insured from a company that goes under a few months later. Do they have a good reputation of satisfactory settling of claims? You don't want to have to jump through hoops when you submit yours.

Customer testimonials. Plenty of online resources will give you the platform you need to collect information about how the company treats its customers. You might find out things that sway you in either direction. Just remember to double-check because it's easy for people to pretend to be somebody else when they're on the internet.

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