Understanding Dental Insurance Plans In Virginia

Dental insurance plans like traditional health plans can be offered in indemnity and managed care modes. Understanding various types of dental insurance plans in Virginia, consumers can quickly identify the best suitable plan for their needs.
In this article, we will deal with the types of dental insurance plans offered in Virginia.
Indemnity dental plans in Virginia
Like traditional fee-for-service health plans, a monthly premium is paid by the client. If the plan is offered by the employer, then there would be a portion of premium paid by the employer.
Some typical features of these dental plans:
�High deductibles before coverage begins
�Probationary periods on certain procedures that last up to a year
�Annual dollar limit on benefits
�Your average monthly cost: $15 to $25
�Companies selling these plans are regulated by state insurance departments
Dental HMO plans in Virginia
Like traditional HMO plans, these dental plans provide a comprehensive dental care to enrolled patients through designated provider office.
Some typical features of these dental plans:
�Monthly premiums
�Co-payments for office visits
�Free preventive or routine care
�May have an initial enrollment fee
�Annual dollar cap
�Your average monthly cost: $5 to $15
�Companies selling these plans are regulated by state insurance departments
Dental PPO plans in Virginia
Another type of managed care dental plans, Preferred provider organizations ( PPOs) fall somewhere between an indemnity plan and a dental HMO. These plans allow a particular group of patients to receive dental care from a defined panel of dentists; at the same time, there is an option of seeing a dentist from outside the network, but this may cost higher to the consumer.
Some typical features of these dental plans:
�Monthly premiums
�Your average monthly cost: $20-25
�Companies selling these plans are regulated by state insurance departments
Direct Reimbursement dental plans in Virginia
Another option for Virginians to have a dental care plan is the direct reimbursement plan. This is a self-funded benefit plan in which an employer pays for dental care with its own funds. Of course, it is no insurance.
Some typical features of a direct reimbursement plans:
�Neither a consumer nor the employer pay monthly premiums
�Freedom to choose any dentist
�Benefits usually capped at $500 to $2,000 annually.
Dental Discount in Virginia
�It is not insurance but the managing organizations negotiate with local dental offices to establish a set price for a particular dental procedure and offer deep discounts.