Surprisingly Affordable Dental Insurance (teeth, molar, dentist, cost)

[sayulita]

I have to buy my own health insurance and it's really expensive. But I discovered that DENTAL insurance is surprisingly affordable. I have the beginnings of a probable root canal so just on a whim I googled Dental Insurance and found a policy for $34 a month. They don't ask for any kind of dental history, but there are some exclusions and waiting periods. No maximum, no deductibles, just reasonable co-pays. For example, a friend with no insurance just had a root canal and paid $1250. On my new insurance, my copay for a molar root canal is only $250.
The policy I got is specific to the Pacific Northwest so just google dental insurance for your state to see what's available.
Just thought I'd put that out here in case some of you assumed, like me, that dental insurance would be too expensive and/or limited.

[AnonChick]

Originally Posted by sayulita

I have to buy my own health insurance and it's really expensive. But I discovered that DENTAL insurance is surprisingly affordable. I have the beginnings of a probable root canal so just on a whim I googled Dental Insurance and found a policy for $34 a month. They don't ask for any kind of dental history, but there are some exclusions and waiting periods. No maximum, no deductibles, just reasonable co-pays. For example, a friend with no insurance just had a root canal and paid $1250. On my new insurance, my copay for a molar root canal is only $250.
The policy I got is specific to the Pacific Northwest so just google dental insurance for your state to see what's available.
Just thought I'd put that out here in case some of you assumed, like me, that dental insurance would be too expensive and/or limited.

Your friend paid too much for their root canal. The average cost for a front tooth root canal is around $500, and a molar is around $700.

That doesn't include a cap/crown, because those are never included in the cost, because they are not always needed. So they're priced seperately. Crowns are generally not insurable and you'd have to pay the full amount.

So your co-pay for a $700 procedure was only $250...

however, at $34/ month you're paying $408 per year. If you get nothing else done that year, you will have paid $658 just for the root canal, which is a savings of 42 bucks. And then you might have to pay for the crown, which can be several hundred more dollars. Obviously you'll be getting a checkup, which your insurance might/might not cover in full or in part. And at least one cleaning per year, plus at least one set of x-rays every few years.

As long as your insurance is covering all that, it'll be cheaper in the long run. It -is- a savings, especially if there's no minimum out-of-pocket cost and no maximum yearly payout. I think that's the biggest selling point on any dental plan because most of them are notorious for minimums and maximums.

[sayulita]

Originally Posted by AnonChick

Your friend paid too much for their root canal. The average cost for a front tooth root canal is around $500, and a molar is around $700.

That doesn't include a cap/crown, because those are never included in the cost, because they are not always needed. So they're priced seperately. Crowns are generally not insurable and you'd have to pay the full amount.

So your co-pay for a $700 procedure was only $250...

however, at $34/ month you're paying $408 per year. If you get nothing else done that year, you will have paid $658 just for the root canal, which is a savings of 42 bucks. And then you might have to pay for the crown, which can be several hundred more dollars. Obviously you'll be getting a checkup, which your insurance might/might not cover in full or in part. And at least one cleaning per year, plus at least one set of x-rays every few years.

As long as your insurance is covering all that, it'll be cheaper in the long run. It -is- a savings, especially if there's no minimum out-of-pocket cost and no maximum yearly payout. I think that's the biggest selling point on any dental plan because most of them are notorious for minimums and maximums.

I also was quoted $1250 by another dentist (for a molar root canal), so maybe that's the going rate around here. Regardless, you are right. Even if it was only $700, I still pay only $250 (on a molar). Stainless steel crowns are $70 and porcelain crowns are $400. Check ups, x-rays and cleaning are at $0 co-pay, so already I'm ahead of the game. Fillings are $25-50. I think the $408 a year will more than pay for itself as I (and my teeth) get older. It's great peace of mind.

[marc515]

That insurance sounds like a good deal.

I have not heard of a Root canal therapy costing only $500, but I guess there are places you might get one done for that for a single root.

I had a calcified root on a molar last year, and my regular dentist couldn't do it, and sent me to an endodontist. I asked the office what the procedure would have cost and it was $1,750; fortunately, the insurance covered it.

[Chelsea123456]

Check out Mantra Health. Super flexible with lots of plans to choose from. Some under $100.