The numbers are nothing to smile about - more than 108 million Americans don't have dental insurance, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Yet healthy teeth and gums play a fundamental role in overall health.Increasingly, consumers and employers are turning to discount dental plans to obtain the essential coverage they need at a price they can afford. High premiums, strict limitations of coverage and service issues are often associated with traditional dental coverage.
The National Association of Dental Plans (NADP) views discount dental plans as a viable, cost-effective alternative: "With an estimated 45 percent of Americans not having any type of dental coverage, and the dental insurance marketplace offering few, affordable dental products for individuals, discount dental plans are an attractive answer to the need to reduce consumer out-of-pocket costs and increase access to care."
Discount dental plan members pay a low annual membership fee and are granted access to a network of participating providers offering discounts of 10 percent to 60 percent on most dental procedures, including braces, root canals, crowns, dentures, cosmetic dentistry and more on select plans. Certain plans even include discounts on additional benefits, including prescription, vision, hearing and chiropractic care.
Discount dental plans - starting at $79.95 per year for individuals and $129.95 per year for families - are much more affordable than traditional dental insurance. According to a 2005 report by the NADP , the average monthly premium for individual dental HMO insurance is nearly $16 (about $192 per year), compared to nearly $24 (about $288 per year) for individual dental PPO insurance and nearly $31 (about $372 per year) for individual dental indemnity insurance.NADP states: "Discount dental plans have become an economical and important alternative to combat the rising cost of health care. They are a cost-effective vehicle for millions of underserved consumers to improve their access to dental care."
For businesses and other groups with dental benefits, discount dental plans are easy to implement and practically effortless to manage. Many businesses are using discount dental plans to offer dental benefits to people that are rarely covered by traditional dental insurance, including retirees, part-timers, seasonal workers and uninsured dependants. Businesses can protect their employees' health and provide peace of mind by encouraging their team to join a money-saving discount dental plan.
One of the best sources for finding affordable discount dental plans is DentalPlans.com, www.dentalplans.com. As the leading online provider of discount dental plans, DentalPlans.com offers consumers the freedom to choose from more than 30 plans with a combined network of more than 100,000 participating providers. Since 1999, DentalPlans.com has been committed to improving oral health nationwide by making quality dental care affordable and accessible to everyone.
In short, discount dental plans offer individual, families, businesses and other groups with a great deal of value by providing access to affordable dental care without sacrificing service or flexibility. Discount dental plans are an ideal solution for anyone looking to save money while improving their oral health.
To learn more about the savings and benefits offered by discount dental plans, please visit www.dentalplans.com.
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