Dental Discount Plans 101: How They Work, Which to Choose
Dental discount plans, or dental savings plans, are fee-based plans that offer discounts to members on services provided by participating dentists.
Whether you want an alternative to conventional dental insurance or you’re looking to supplement your coverage, find out how signing up for a dental discount plan can help you and your family save on dental care.
Types of Dental Discount Plans
Typically, dental discount plans are available for individuals, families, or groups. Every plan offers different levels of coverage, which determines which dental services you’ll get a discount for. Many plans charge a monthly or annual fee depending on how many people are in your household, the ages of members, and more.
Carefree Dental provides discounts and savings, making it easy to know which is right for you without hidden fees or fine print.
How Much Can I Save With a Dental Discount Plan?
The money you can save with a dental discount plan can vary based on the program you choose and the type of dental work you need. With Carefree Dental, you can save between 15% and 50%* on standard dental procedures.
*Per visit, in most instances on services at any of the many available dental practice locations. Actual costs and savings may vary by provider, service and geographical location. We use the average of negotiated fees from participating providers to determine the average costs, as shown on the chart. The select regional average cost represents the average fees for the procedures listed above in Los Angeles, Orlando, Chicago and New York City, as displayed in the cost of care tool as of June 2020.
Additional Benefits of a Dental Discount Plan
Many dental discount plans come with additional benefits that can help you save even more. Some programs include discounts on vision services and glasses, as well as prescription discounts at participating providers.
How Are Dental Discount Plans Different From Insurance?
You’ll typically pay for traditional dental insurance through a monthly premium. If your workplace offers dental insurance, they will likely cover a portion of the premium payment.
Dental discount plans work a little differently. Members pay an annual or monthly fee and receive a membership card. You can present the membership card to any participating dental provider, and discounts are applied immediately– no need for reimbursements, prior authorizations, complicated paperwork, or waiting periods.
Dental discount plans and dental insurance plans also differ in other ways. Below are some major differences between conventional dental insurance and dental discount plans.
Commitment
Getting a dental savings plan is a low-commitment way to save on dental work. Unlike insurance, which usually requires an annual contract, dental discount plans can be purchased month-to-month, meaning you can cancel at any time without a penalty.
Annual Limits
Insurance plans typically have an annual limit. An annual limit is the amount of money your insurance company will reimburse you every year. Once you’ve reached your annual limit, you must pay out of pocket for all future expenses, even if your insurance plan would have covered them.
Dental discount plans have no annual maximums or limits, meaning you can save on all dental care you receive all year long — no matter how many procedures you receive.
Deductibles
A deductible is the amount of money you have to pay out of pocket on dental care before you can begin to use your insurance.
Many, though not all, insurance plans require you to meet a deductible before savings kicks in. If you only plan on getting standard cleanings or other low-cost procedures, you may not hit your deductible, in which case you may lose rather than save money with your insurance plan.
Dental discount plans don’t have any deductibles or minimums before you can use your membership card. You can save on dental care from the very first time you see a participating provider after you get your membership.
Waiting Periods
Waiting periods are periods between when you enroll in an insurance plan and when you can begin using the benefits of that plan. These periods help insurance companies prevent users from signing up for insurance right before planned costly procedures, especially when they wouldn't have signed up otherwise.
Waiting periods keep insurance costs down, but unfortunately, they also make it difficult for those who need immediate coverage to afford the dental care they need.
Many dental insurance options have waiting periods, often around three months but occasionally as long as a year. Some dental discount plans also have waiting periods, but many don’t. With most dental discount plans, you’re free to sign up and use your card the very next day.
Costs
The annual or monthly costs of a dental discount plan are generally less than the premiums paid for dental insurance. Dental insurance, on average, costs about $45 per person per month, while dental discount plans, on the other hand, often cost around $100 annually for an individual.
While the monthly cost of purchasing a dental discount plan is lower, it typically doesn’t cover as many of your dentist appointments as dental insurance would. Whether insurance or a dental discount plan is more likely to save you money depends on your situation, the type of dental insurance you choose, and the level of coverage you need.
Provider Options
Both dental insurance and dental discount plans limit which providers you can see while using their services. Insurance companies and dental discount plans make deals with individual dentists, so you’ll have to stay in-network to receive benefits.
Insurance plans may have some out-of-network benefits as well. If your plan offers these benefits, your insurance will reimburse you for some of the cost of your visit, even if the provider is out of your network. Typically, these benefits cover a much smaller portion of the service than they would if you stayed in-network.
Dental discount plans and insurance plans usually offer access to a wide variety of dentists nationwide, so you’ll never be far from getting the care you need.
Dental Insurance Vs. Dental Discount Plan
You can use a dental discount plan in two ways. First, you can use it to supplement your conventional dental insurance and protect yourself in case you hit your annual insurance maximum. Second, you can use a dental discount plan as an alternative to dental insurance.
Using a Dental Discount Plan and Insurance Together
It may seem like you don’t need a dental discount plan if you already have dental insurance, but this isn't always the case. Many people get a dental discount plan in addition to dental insurance for additional protection.
Dental insurance usually has an annual maximum or limit, but dental plans have no cap. If you hit your annual limit on your dental insurance plan, you can use your dental discount plan to afford the rest of the care you need.
Because of the annual limits associated with insurance plans, many people with significant dental work coming up sign up for dental discount plans to help cover excess costs.
Note: You cannot use a dental discount plan and dental insurance on the same procedure.
Using a Dental Discount Plan as an Insurance Alternative
If your employer doesn’t offer dental insurance and you otherwise can’t afford the high premiums of insurance, you’ll need an affordable alternative to help you pay for dental care. Rather than choosing private insurance, which fails to meet the needs of most average Americans, you can buy a dental discount plan instead.
Dental discount plans typically cost less than dental insurance plans, and are ideal if you need dental care on a budget. They offer savings as well, in some cases 15-50%* off per visit, in most instances, on dental services.
*Per visit, in most instances on services at any of the many available dental practice locations. Actual costs and savings may vary by provider, service and geographical location. We use the average of negotiated fees from participating providers to determine the average costs, as shown on the chart. The select regional average cost represents the average fees for the procedures listed above in Los Angeles, Orlando, Chicago and New York City, as displayed in the cost of care tool as of June 2020.
Is a Dental Discount Plan Right for Me?
Paying with a dental discount plan is different from paying with insurance. With a dental discount plan, you’ll need to pay your entire bill – after applying the discount – at the time of service. In contrast, your insurance provider may pay the dentist directly.
Considering these terms and answering the following questions will help you decide whether a dental discount plan is the right choice for you and your family.
How much dental work do you need?
If you need very little dental work, you may not meet the deductible on an insurance plan, meaning you’ll end up spending more on a plan than you end up saving. With a dental discount plan, you can use your plan on every dentist appointment, with no deductible or minimum spending amount required.
Do you use Medicare?
Unfortunately, Medicare does not cover most dental expenses, leaving many Medicare users to struggle with dental bills. If you need dental care and you’re a Medicare user, a dental discount plan may be a good way to help you afford dental care that Medicare doesn’t cover.
Do you think you may exceed your annual insurance limit?
If you have significant dental work planned and know you may exceed your annual limit on insurance, a dental discount plan may be able to help you save. You can use your dental discount plan on any costs that exceed your annual limit.
Note: You cannot use a dental discount plan and dental insurance on the same procedure.
Do you need dental work immediately?
If you have recently discovered a serious dental issue and are looking to save on upcoming dental work, a dental discount plan can help. There are no waiting periods or restrictions for preexisting conditions.
Do you need a less expensive alternative to dental insurance?
The monthly cost of dental discount plans generally tends to be less than the premiums on dental insurance. If you’re looking for a less expensive alternative to conventional insurance consider getting a dental discount plan instead.
Save on Trips to the Dentist With Carefree Dental
If you’re looking to save on dental care, Carefree Dental can help. Our dental discount plans can save you 15-50%* per visit, in most instances, on dental services and start at just $15.95/month for individuals and $19.95/month for families.
The Carefree Dental program includes over 262,000 available dental practice locations nationwide.** Membership also comes with additional benefits, including discounts on vision services, glasses, and prescriptions from participating locations.
Sign up for Carefree Dental to get the best deal in dental!
*Actual costs and savings vary by provider, service and geographical area.
**As of April 2020.
The Carefree Dental blog is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The text and pictures within the content are intended for information purposes only. Readers should consult with a licensed dentist or healthcare professional before seeking treatment.
The Carefree Dental Card is not insurance and Carefree Dental is not an insurance provider.
