Updated: 1/22/2020
Dental bills are expensive. These days, even the cost of a routine cleaning can seem sky high. Nobody wants to pay these high costs, but people are left with little choice…or are they?
We’ve put together a complete guide to help you pay for your dental care. Take a look at our suggestions for less stress and more savings!
1. Consider Insurance
While insurance isn’t for everyone, it’s an available option. Most people who have insurance use it because their company offers it as an employee benefit. Unfortunately, this kind of insurance savings only goes as far as the amount of money the employer has put into the plan. Anything that is not covered by the plan is left for you to pay out-of-pocket.
Another common problem with traditional insurance is that it often does not cover dental procedures, unless you have a specific dental insurance plan. Insurance that does include dental care can still cost the user a great deal of money.
For children up to age 19, Medicaid and CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program) provide health care for free or at a low cost. Other family members may be covered with the children if their application is accepted.
2. Paying Out-of-Pocket
In general, nobody likes paying “out-of-pocket.” Essentially, it means that the responsibility of paying for something has gone from an insurance or plan provider back to you. Paying out-of-pocket can be difficult, especially if the costs are high and money is tight.
Below are some options to help you save money on the dental work that you need:
- Dental Office Payment Plan – Talk to your dentist to see if they provide their own payment or financing plans for their patients. Some offices have been known to offer no interest or low interest plans, in which the patient can join to help pay the costs of their dental work.
- Dental Schools – Many dental schools provide care at a reduced cost so that students can gain the experience needed to graduate. Check locally to find a dental school near you!
- Equity Loans – Unlike installment loans, equity loans have the advantage of low interest. These loans allow the consumer to continue borrowing money up to their credit limit. Another major difference between equity loans and other loans is that equity loans are ensured by collateral – meaning that if the borrower cannot or does not pay, their possession(s) will be forfeited.
- Healthcare Credit Card – Credit cards for healthcare allow you to have several small procedures done as long as you don’t go over your credit limit. CareCredit is a great example of a healthcare credit card.
- Healthcare Installment Loans – Installment loans work very similarly to a car loan. You can set a payment schedule with fixed interest rates to begin paying off a greater debt.
- Negotiate the Prices – If your dentist doesn’t provide an office payment plan, they may be willing to “haggle” to find a price that works for both of you.
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Preventive Care – It may seem obvious, but a huge way to save on dental work includes keeping up oral hygiene. This means…
- Daily Brushing and Flossing
- Eating Teeth-Healthy Foods
- Visiting the Dentist Regularly
- Resource Searches – One example of a resource search includes toothwisdom.org for elders and their caregivers. The site allows you to search via state to find local resources for all kinds of dental needs.
- Time Your Treatment – Talk to your dentist about spacing out the dental treatments needed to place the cost against two annual limits.
3. Discount Dental Plans
1Dental’s discount plans provide reduced rates on all dental procedures at any of our in-network dentists. Take a look at our fee schedule to view the cost and savings from any of our plans. The plans have unlimited use and no waiting time!
You can sign up for a plan at 1Dental.com or call us at 800-372-7615. We’d love to hear from you or answer any questions you may have!
Do you have tips to save money on dental care? Share them with us in the comments below!
