Best Prices for Illinois Dental Insurance

When Myra cracked a tooth during a softball game and had to pay for the expensive and painful repairs out of pocket, she decided it was time to look for individual dental insurance. If you, like Myra, are in the market for a dental plan, these guidelines will help ensure that you find the best deal options.

1. Don’t Look Exclusively at Premiums

Many people think that if they pay the lowest premium, they’ve gotten the best plan, but that’s not necessarily true. In addition to premiums, which can be very reasonable for dental insurance, look at deductibles, copays and any other money you will be spending out-of-pocket as well as coverage limits.  The lowest premiums on earth won’t get you anywhere if the plan you purchase has a low benefit limit and steep deductibles and copays.

2. Get Maximum Benefit from a PPO

Many dental plans are PPOs, or preferred provider organizations. This means that the insurance company has contracted with a specific network of providers in your area.  If you go to a dentist who is not in-network, your insurance benefit can drop by as much as 50 percent.  If you’re new in town and shopping around for a dentist, the PPO you select shouldn’t make much difference; however, if you already have a dentist you absolutely love, make sure he or she is listed as a preferred provider on any dental plan you purchase.

3. Watch Out for Waiting Periods

Some plans stipulate that they will not pay for more expensive dental procedures such as bridges, crowns, or dentures unless you have had your dental insurance policy for 12 consecutive months or more. If you anticipate needing this type of dental care in the near future, either select a plan without a waiting period or talk to your dentist about whether your care can be delayed or there is a less costly type of care available that will ease your problem.

4. Dental Plans and Health Insurance

Most dental plans are not sold separately.  It is optional that can be added as a rider to the company’s health insurance policy.  For instance, to get Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois’ BlueCare Dental PPO, you need to add it at the time you sign up for one its health insurance plans.  While at first this concept may seem to limit your choices, the truth is that these “bundles” allow the insurance company to offer low dental insurance premiums and excellent benefits.  BlueCare Dental PPO has one of the largest maximum annual benefits in the state of Illinois at $1500 per individual. Companies that sell individual dental plans will often cap your benefits at $1000 or even $500.

5. Comparison Shop

Select two or three plans that interest you the most, and then visit their websites, request written information, or call and speak to an insurance agent. Compare the plans carefully and make your selection based on which plan is best able to meet your dental and financial needs.