Question:
My husband's employer has terrible dental coverage, and we are
looking for outside insurance. Does anyone have any info on good plans that
are reasonable for a family of 4? I have looked up Delta Dental but don't
know if it is a good plan or not.
Answer:
Every dental plan I've ever seen has not been "insurance" per se,
but just a way for the employer to play some of the costs of dental care.
Basically, the amount you pay in is pretty close to the max benefits you
can get out.
Here in Michigan, Delta has been the most reliable, other than a non-
profit one we had when I was a kid that was just for state employees.
(Your best dental insurance is dental floss, a good floride toothpaste,
floridated water, and no pop--even the non-sugar kind has acids that are
nasty to your teeth. Oh, and don't use your teeth to open bottles or
crush ice or anything....)
We managed to raise 4 kids on a Medical insurance plan that offered no
dental or eye care. We just took care of our teeth, had regular cleanings,
and paid out of pocket for any needed work. Yes, it was expensive at times,
especially for major orthodontia for 2 of them. But, we paid it. As a side
note, not one of our kids has ever had a cavity.
We do have a "Flexible Spending Plan" or "Cafeteria Plan" for none covered
medical expenses, but it is still our money. It is deducted pre-tax from my
husbands pay check, and we must estimate accurately each year as you lose
any money you don't spend, but it has helped us pay those big bills such as
the braces (total of $4600 for 2 over a period of 5 years).
Don't know if you realize this........but your employer pays NOTHING for dental,
health and or any other benefits. YOU are paying it all and it is included
with the COST of employing you.
Better speak up soon..........because your "benefits" are going to be taxed,
just like income in the coming years.
Why don't you ask your employer how much dental insurance costs. Tell him to
deduct it from your benefits package and include the amount in your actual take
home salary.
Blessed are those who can give without remembering and take without forgetting.
Is there any good reason why employer provided health care subsidies
should not be taxed as income?
It's hard for a dental plan to be "good" if you mean providing more benefits
than you pay in, because most people have about the same dental needs.
(Cleaning twice a year, some x-rays, an occasional filling or other work.)
So there's no one paying in premiums but not collecting benefits from the plan.
So there's no pool of money being paid in to cover the major expenses a few
people experience.
Premiums have to cover benefits plus overhead, so overall a medical or dental
plan must collect more in premiums than it pays in benefits.
Lots of people sign up for medical coverage they barely use because they want
protection in case of a major expense. This provides a pool of money allowing
the plan to provide good coverage in case of a rare major problem. Those
few who have major expenses are paid from the premiums of the many who don't.
I.e., you aren't going to find a "good" dental plan.
At most you will find a group of dentists who agree to
work for less than the going rate.
