The Haves and Have-Nots of Dental Care

Why Do Individuals NOT Have Dental Care?

A recent survey showed a staggering percentage of people considered “low income” do not have any form of dental insurance. One of the main reasons…cost. In addition to those with an income of less than $25,000, the percentage of people without coverage was approaching 40 percent. Overall, the largest group of individuals having dental insurance averaged over $100,000 in income every year.

With unemployment and budget cuts continuing to affect the working class, it is no surprise that almost 60 percent of the people surveyed that did not have insurance simply stated they could not afford coverage. The question is, if the industry could make dental coverage more affordable, would these individuals sign up for coverage?

The survey addressed this question and oddly enough, it found that those without coverage would NOT seek out lower cost plans if their employer did not already offer the coverage. When asked for a reason, most respondents answered they did not think they needed coverage at this time or they would just pay for the treatments out of pocket. Unfortunately, what these individuals do not realize is that without some type of coverage, the out-of-pocket costs would be considerable.

Options for Affordable Dental Care

Without employer coverage or a low-cost insurance plan , just how can people get some type of affordable dental insurance? One of the best options right now is a dental savings plan. Again, unfortunately, this is something most people are completely unfamiliar with, which is unfortunate because of the savings these plans offer (can save as much as 60% on out-of-pocket expenses).

If we look at some typical plans, the contributor will pay approximately $200 per year in fees. This may seem like a lot of money on a tight budget, but the savings on just annual treatments is significant. As an example, let’s look at a family of four with bi-annual checkups:

• (2) 6-month checkups each - $60 each (total cost of $480)
• Bi-annual teeth cleaning treatments - $100 each (total cost of $800)
• Annual x-rays - $150 each (total cost of $600)

The “typical” annual treatments for a family of four are estimated at $1,880. The family could save as much as $700 on these treatments, netting a $500 in overall savings after the plan cost has been deducted. If additional treatments and/or care were needed, these savings would only increase.

If you live in New Hampshire and are in need of dental coverage, the Wellness Dental Plan offers a variety of coverage options for businesses, individuals, and families. For more information or to request coverage, please click here.

*Photo Courtesy of US Army Africa via Creative Commons License