I have yet to see a dental insurance plan that actually made financial sense. So those of you who switch dentists because of insurance, maybe skip the insurance instead.
I agree with this and don't have dental insurance. Some years though, it comes down to whether you feel lucky. As an example, I have my real numbers from 2014 handy and thought I'd post them here.
In 2014, I set aside $700 in a LEX-FSA for planned cleanings and fillings. My dentist does not accept insurance.
Two cleanings. I was billed $202 for each. My health insurance plan allowance was $157 for cleanings, and they reimbursed 50% of the plan allowance, or $78.50 per cleaning. My out of pocket was $123.50/cleaning or $247/year.
Three fillings: two planned, one not.
Dentist billed $290, $215 and $275. Of that health insurance reimbursed me $28, $21, and $28. Out of pocket was $703.
My total out of pocket was $950.
Had I gone the dental insurance route, I would have paid $19.57/month in premiums or $234.84 for the year. I would have paid nothing for the two cleanings. I would have paid 45% of the cleanings. Because my dentist is out of network, I'd also be responsible for any difference between the plan allowance and the billed amount. Since I don't know what the plan allowances are for fillings, I'm assuming for simplicity that they are the same as billed amount, and that I would have had out of pocket expenses of $130.50, $96.75 and $123.75.
The total out of pocket with dental insurance would have been $585.84. So I spent ~$365 more last year because I went without dental insurance.
But what happens in years when I don't have any fillings? I would pay $247 for two cleanings without insurance or $235 in premiums with dental insurance, a difference of only $12. So every year, I make like Dirty Harry and ask myself "Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?"
I'm one of the people who has had problems with overtreatment, upsells etc., which is why I'm sticking with my dentist even though he is out of network and costs me more.
