Medical plans, not surprisingly, are still viewed as more crucial for employees. When a budget crunch hits a company, employers often decrease dental-plan benefits before they touch medical benefits. If you're faced with making a decision about a dental plan, it pays to educate yourself first. Start by finding out which type of plan your employer is offering, suggests James Marshall, director of the Council on Dental Benefit Programs for the American Dental Association. They typically reimburse employees according to money spent, not treatment type.
Patients can choose any dentist.
PPOs allow employees to pick a dentist from a network of providers who have agreed to offer discount fees. With a DHMO, individuals see contracted dentists for services. Some employers offer referral plans, giving workers the names of dentists who have agreed to provide care at discounted rates, but this does not qualify as true dental insurance. Determine if the plan provides for early intervention to ward off more extensive problems later, he adds. If you have young children or teenagers, preventive care is especially important and an orthodontia benefit is ideal.