Why Dental Is Important!

According to the Kaiser Family, 2 out of 3 people on Medicare have no dental coverage. This is a major problem. Dental care is truly a medical need. Studies show that when a person has no dental coverage, they are far more likely to put off routine dental visits and checkups strictly because they dread having to pay, or cannot afford to pay for the entire visit out of pocket.

​While it is true that some Medicare Advantage plans can come with some dental coverage, in many cases, what they provide simply is not enough for someone with substantial dental expenses. Having dental insurance can be a great benefit. Its primary reason is not for the expected routine checkups, it is for the unexpected big expenses. 

Are Dental Vision & Hearing Plans Worth It?

Truth be told, Dental Vision & Hearing insurance or DVH plans, can be a bit of a surprise. Often, they do not look like people expect them to look. Many times, people are underwhelmed with the benefits they provide. However, I feel if they are put into proper context as to what they do vs what they do not do, you will learn that they can be very good program for certain people if they have needs that a DVH plan can fill. 

First and foremost, it is important to understand that Medicare by itself typically does not cover dental vision or hearing needs. This can cause a large hole in terms of what a person might need when they retire. DVH plans can be a great solution for that.

There are plans that exist as dental-only insurance plans and plans exist that act as all three built into one plan. The first thing to do is to understand the characteristics of a DVH plan. 

What Do These Plans Look Like?

It is common for DVH plans to typically have limitations in the first year of coverage. There are exceptions to this, but normally, a DVH plan will have waiting periods in the first 12 months of coverage. It is common for a plan to include coverage immediately for things like preventative dental (cleanings, x-rays, and exams), while major dental work like bridges, crowns, and root canals will come with a typical 12 month wait before any coverage will be provided. While some plans offer same day coverage on these major services but at a reduced percentage. 

​Normally DVH plans have a maximum benefit payout amount per year. What this means is that once the plan has paid out the maximum payout amount per year, the plan will not pay any more claims until the next policy year. These maximums vary depending on the insurance company and the part of the country. These maximums can be anywhere between $1000-$5000. Plan availability will vary.