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I looked at dental only plans last night on line. There was ONE in my geographic area that partially covered crowns and root canals, with a $1000 max per year, and covered your basic clean and check, and part of x-ray costs. Interestingly, it was less expensive than the dental plan I pay $30 per month for at work, with slightly better benefits (ie no deductible). Unfortunately, the providers in my area who will accept it are not places I would want to get dental care......so back to the drawing board. Will keep looking. If anyone finds a decent individual (not employer) dental plan, please let me know, okay? I wont be able to keep working forever, but I do plan on having my teeth, LOL!!!
The best plan IMHO is the one offered by your dentist. If you can find one. Doesn't hurt to ask.
DH and I have some very limited dental insurance with the federal employees BC/BS insurance we have secondary to our Medicare coverage. It's hardly worth considering, though, as the coverage is extremely limited and the reimbursements seem little more than the cost of a stamp to mail them the bills ( exaggerated, I know, but they really are a joke), and none of the dentists around here accept that insurance anyway. I'm in the process of looking for dental insurance that the dentist I go to will accept, his office gave me a list. Unfortunately most of what's on the list is available only to employers, not to individuals or family members.
As a federal employee or retiree, you don't need to rely on your BCBS health insurance plan for dental coverage; you're eligible to purchase dental insurance under the BENEFEDS FEDVIP program. And it doesn't matter if your dentist accepts the insurance or not, your FEDVIP plan will reimburse you directly if your dentist doesn't accept the insurance. Now, admittedly, the reimbursement will be at a lower percentage rate if you go to an out-of-network dentist, but you'll still have coverage that is far superior to the miniscule amount provided by BCBS. Here's some info on all of the available plans in case you aren't familiar with the program:
That's a really good idea, the four cleanings a year. Unfortunately most people don't have dental insurance--I don't know anyone who has it now that we're retired. Even the 6 month check up and cleaning is expensive. Oh well. Floss, floss, floss.
One way to mitigate the cost is to schedule an additional cleaning or two during the year, but don't undergo the dental exam. When you go in for a cleaning, your bill will normally consist of two charges: one for the hygienist who performs the cleaning, and one for the professional examination performed by the dentist. You can go in for just the cleaning, but not have the dentist perform the exam afterwards. I normally get my teeth cleaned every 3-4 months, but I only have the dentist examine my mouth twice a year.
One way to mitigate the cost is to schedule an additional cleaning or two during the year, but don't undergo the dental exam. When you go in for a cleaning, your bill will normally consist of two charges: one for the hygienist who performs the cleaning, and one for the professional examination performed by the dentist. You can go in for just the cleaning, but not have the dentist perform the exam afterwards. I normally get my teeth cleaned every 3-4 months, but I only have the dentist examine my mouth twice a year.
Now THAT'S a good idea. Just the cleaning.
(I just started with a new dentist today and she is wonderful. I go back in a month--senior discounts too, thank goodness.)
Puts me in mind of an old joke about which part of the body is the boss........
Seriously, what I would be most concerned with, dental wise, is periodontal diseases/gum infections, because those are some bad bugs involved in those infections that can spread into the bloodstream from the infected gums, and cause endocarditis, pericarditis, and even joint infections sometimes.
But I guess like your teeth issues, treatment of hemorrhoids can involve a variety of choices, from over the counter products, to surgery......
You're right IMO about the consequences of oral/teeth infections. Which is why one poster here a ways back mentioned having (presumably infected) teeth removed before some major surgery.
Hemorrhoids - I could say the obvious - like they're a PITA . But they don't hurt. Just bleed. I've had lap banding - which worked for a while - then failed. Will probably try the lap banding again. The problem with surgery is one possible surgical complication is fecal incontinence. Don't ever want to deal with that . Robyn
One way to mitigate the cost is to schedule an additional cleaning or two during the year, but don't undergo the dental exam. When you go in for a cleaning, your bill will normally consist of two charges: one for the hygienist who performs the cleaning, and one for the professional examination performed by the dentist. You can go in for just the cleaning, but not have the dentist perform the exam afterwards. I normally get my teeth cleaned every 3-4 months, but I only have the dentist examine my mouth twice a year.
At my husband's dentist - he gets cleanings 3x/year - for about $100/pop - and the dentist doesn't look at anything unless the hygienist (or whatever the person is called) thinks there's anything for the dentist to look at. On may part - my prosthodondist personally does my cleaning 2X year - at a cost of $150/session. And - if he sees anything - he sets up a consult between him and my oral surgeon. There's more than one way to skin a cat. Robyn
As a federal employee or retiree, you don't need to rely on your BCBS health insurance plan for dental coverage; you're eligible to purchase dental insurance under the BENEFEDS FEDVIP program. And it doesn't matter if your dentist accepts the insurance or not, your FEDVIP plan will reimburse you directly if your dentist doesn't accept the insurance. Now, admittedly, the reimbursement will be at a lower percentage rate if you go to an out-of-network dentist, but you'll still have coverage that is far superior to the miniscule amount provided by BCBS. Here's some info on all of the available plans in case you aren't familiar with the program:
Thanks, MM, for the information and links. Now that you mention it, once upon a time I knew we did have access to the same dental insurance that federal employees do, ( my DH is a federal retiree), but I had dismissed it as something we didn't need ( silly me), and proceeded to put it out of my mind. It looks like there are several plans there that my dentist does take, so I wouldn't even have to find a new dentist when we sign up for a plan.
From what I can gather from the information, we have to wait until the insurance open season to sign up for one of these plans, I think that's in November.
I guess we are very lucky to still have employer dental coverage available to us- at least for now....
I forgot to add that dental services in Nuevo Progreso Mexico is MUCH cheaper if you are ever down in Texas. It's the one place in Mexico we feel safe but we stay on the road with the restaurants, drug stores, dentist etc. It's 1 1/2 blocks across the bridge to the dentist and no gang of thugs is waiting to grab you. A LOT of seniors go over to save money on various things.
What dental clinic did you go to? Husband and I are planning a visit to Progreso Nuevo for dental work in April or May.
TwoTexan's last post was in 2014. His location says "account deleted".
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. But they don't hurt. Just bleed. I've had lap banding - which worked for a while - then failed. Will probably try the lap banding again. The problem with surgery is one possible surgical complication is fecal incontinence. Don't ever want to deal with that 
. Robyn
