Earlier this year, I raved about a new dental plan in Georgia that offers excellent coverage. The most significant feature of this plan is that there are no waiting periods (for non-group coverage). This plan is still going strong and I highly recommend it for many folks who have a need for immediate dental work. For more info on this plan, see my previous post.
Most plans will make you wait at least 12 months before they pay anything towards “major” dental work, such as crowns or root canals. So, this plan is ideal for those who need dental work. However, a couple of months ago, there was a rate increase for new applicants — making this plan a little less attractive.
There is one other plan available in Georgia that offers decent benefits — with no waiting periods — and the premium is much lower. Determining which dental insurance plan is best depends on the unique situation of the person/family. I can’t simply say that one of the plans is “the best”, just like I can’t say that for health insurance or life insurance policies. It is really important to look at all the factors and do a cost/benefit analysis. This doesn’t take long and isn’t as painful as a root canal : )
Many folks want to know how Health Care Reform will affect dental insurance. There won’t be any changes for adults — dental insurance will remain a separate benefit that can be purchased at an additional cost. It’s a different story for children. All non-grandfathered plans will be migrated to an ACA-compliant plan in 2014. ACA-compliant plans are required to have the 10 Essential Health Benefits. One of those ten benefits is dental coverage for children. However, we still don’t know exactly what the benefits will look like. There is still debate as to whether carriers will offer dental benefits as an option — even though the law says it is essential in the new plan designs. We should know more in the next two months.
I’ll be glad to answer any questions about dental insurance, so please call me to discuss or get quotes.
Greg Sanders Peachtree Insurance Advisors 678-236-1600
