Apart from being a highly overlooked aspect of health, the treatment and maintenance of dental issues can be quite expensive. And this is where having good dental insurance can be useful. A comprehensive plan will not only ensure quality treatment but also lower one’s out-of-pocket costs. Here are some of the popular types of dental insurance plans and providers, and some tips to help pick the right ones.

Types of dental insurance plans
Some plans have prerequisites, e,g., the dentist one is consulting must be part of a network, others may have a maximum limit on the charges. One must know the difference between the various plans to pick the right one. Here are the plans to choose from:

• Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans
  This is a regular indemnity insurance plan in which Preferred Provider Organizations, or PPOs, have a network of dentists who have a contract with the insurance company. The contract specifies the services a dentist can offer and the fees that can be charged for these services.
• Capitation Plans
  Also known as Dental Health Maintenance Organization (DHMO) plans, Capitation plans have dentists under contract who are given a prepaid amount. This amount is for each patient assigned to the dentist under the dental insurance provider.
• Indemnity Plans
  These are traditional insurance plans through which the provider will pay insurance claims that are a percentage of the fees of dental procedures. Such plans are flexible for patients who want to choose their own dentists.
• Direct Reimbursement
  These plans are a type of self-funded, and the benefits are based on how much is spent on dental services, rather than the amount on the specific services. These plans allow patients to pick any dentist of their choice.
• Point of Service Plans
  Through these plans, patients can avail services from out-of-network providers. The allowances and benefits offered will be lower than those offered by in-network providers.
• Referral or Discount Plans
  These are technically not insurance plans. The provider who offers referral plans has contracts with a network of dentists. These dentists offer discounted fees for their services.
• Exclusive Provider Organizations
  These plans require patients to seek treatment only from dentists participating in these plans. These are closed panel groups that limit the choice of dentists as well as healthcare services.
• Schedule of Allowances Plans
  For Table or Schedule of Allowance plans, a fixed amount is paid for all procedures, no matter the actual charge of the procedure. But the difference is paid out of pocket.

How to pick dental insurance plans

Here are four basic tips for choosing the right dental insurance plan.

• Opting for group coverage, if possible, is always better.
• Pick individual dental policies only after comparison shopping.
• Getting a referral from friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors on trustworthy dentists is really helpful for avoiding unnecessary services.
• One must carefully review the policy, services, benefits, and treatments covered.

Top dental insurance providers
Here’s a pick of some of the most popular providers of dental insurance.

• Cigna
  Known for offering global coverage, Cigna is especially beneficial for those frequently traveling abroad.
• Humana Dental Insurance
  Humana has plans for groups as well as individuals. This provider is also known to offer discounts up to 60%, depending on the coverage plan.
• United Health One Dental Insurance
  Available for employers as well as individuals, this provider is popular for offering comprehensive family plans.
• Delta Dental
  For those looking for affordable family plans, this is a viable choice for prepaid as well as PPO plans.
• Ameritas Dental Insurance
  Ameritas is known for loyalty and rewards programs in which enrollees can have expensive procedures by getting an increment on their annual maximum benefit.