Dental Options

Dental options for employers offering group insured benefits can be tailored to your needs, including panel, HMO, PPO, and "see-any-dentist" plans. Some have orthodontia as well as options for increased coverage for endodontics. Some of these plans can be made voluntary as well. Carriers include Anthem, United Healthcare, Humana, Delta, Ameritas, AIG, and Aetna, among others.

Dental insurance can be very confusing for employee and employer alike - we can help you make the best choice. Dental insurance typically pays on the basis of a percentage of the 'usual and customary' charge that's recognized in a geographic area. PPO and HMO plans limit this out-of-pocket cost by ensuring that providers accept what they have agreed to receive from the carrier, allowing your employees much greater control over their out-of-pocket costs by eliminating amounts over the negotiated maximum. However, these plans may have fewer providers available. Plans can offer the option of 'see-any-dentist' with additional savings by using a panel provider, such as Delta Dental, Humana, Ameritas, and others.

Dental insurance choices depend on the number of employees that you have:

Most insured plans are available for employers groups of 10 or more, with some plans available down to 3 or fewer employees. Waiting periods are common for insured plans, usually for major services, unless you've had prior group coverage. These periods can be waived at the 25+ employee plan. Orthodontia is more difficult to get, especially for adults. Child-only orthodontia is available from some carriers with groups of ten or more.
Non-insurance plans, known as discount plans, offer more flexibility in plan design - ALPHA Dental has dental plans down to 1 employee, using their local network of dentists, with no limits on benefits or any waiting period. Others, such as Direct Dental Plans, have similar benefits with national networks.

Typical insurance plan features would include different deductibles and co-pays, maximum yearly plan benefit and coinsurance percentages. Typically, a traditional insured plan will cover expenses, based on a usual and customary percentile, at 100% preventive, 80% basic, and 50% major, up to your plan limit per insured on a calendar year basis, normally in the $1000-$2000 a year range. Discount plans will be based on a member-fee schedule which is usually quite low.

We specialize in developing cost effective dental plans on an employer-paid or voluntary basis for employers with 2-200 employees, on an insured or self-funded basis. Give us a try!

To request a no-obligation proposal, please complete our Group Dental Proposal
Do you have questions regarding dental coverage's? Email us at info@viehdorfer.com