Discount dental plans can be defined as arrangements that allow patients to receive discounts on cost of services. They have a list of participating dentists that a person can go to for services. Unlike dental insurance that requires you to pay monthly premiums, this plan has a onetime fee. You can also see any participating dentist to receive the discounts.

Participating dentists agree to charge less for their services in return for having their listings regularly displayed to a large list of patients. There is variation in the discounts offered in these plans. In general, you will enjoy lower rates depending on the type of services you use. For example, this plan may allow you to enjoy preventive and diagnostic services free and cover 80 percent of the cost of basic restorative services.

Under many dental plans, you may receive certain services like annual checkups and annual teeth cleaning free or at very low rates. The value of such a plan is that you do not have to refrain from visiting a dentist because of the expenses associated with using the services of this professional. It does not pay for the services you receive but rather allows you to pay discounted rates for these services.

Most plans require dentists to register their fee schedules. This makes it easy to detect if a dentist is overcharging. The other benefit of these plans is that they can allow you to include the members of your family, regardless of the relationship. This is beneficial for people who are not immediate family members.

Discount programs usually have certain defined expenses for members like deductibles, copayments and coinsurance. These cost sharing elements help keep fees at affordable levels to control costs. There can be limitations on how many times you can receive a particular service. Your age can also determine the kind of services that can be discounted.

Dental programs also have a dollar limit that they pay for in a year. After the annual maximum is reached, these programs do not provide coverage for additional services, until the beginning of the next plan year. You will probably not reach your yearly maximum if you only utilize routine care services like cleanings, X rays, and exams.

In order to ensure that you do not get confused after receiving a bill from the dentist, you should get an estimate to know how much the services of a dentist will cost upfront. You should then request your dentist to submit the treatment plan to your insurance company for an estimate of the discounts you can receive for being in the dental plan. This professional may have to submit supporting documents or X rays in order for the service to be pre approved.

Your insurer can provide you with information about the reduced rates the plan allows you to enjoy, how much you will pay for services, how much money remains towards your deductible and if you are close to reaching your yearly dollar limit. When comparing discount dental plans, you should select one that lists the dentist you would like to visit and provides coverage for the services you need. The providers of these plans usually outline the services covered, requirements, limitations and exclusions in a detailed manner.