Which is the Best Dental Insurance for Your Child?

When you’re seeking dental insurance for your child, the most important is that you find a solution that works best both for your kid’s needs and your budget. There are many available offers out there, but we recommend that you do your research, read all available dental insurance materials, and make comparisons between the options before you make a final decision.

Why is Having Dental Insurance So Important?

Children are encouraged from an early age to brush and floss at least twice a day to prevent cavities, tooth decay, and gum disease. Unfortunately, following a strict oral hygiene routine doesn’t always bring the wanted results and children still develop some oral health problems. Dental treatments, on the other hand, are quite pricey and can cost you thousands and thousands of dollars if your child doesn’t have dental insurance or a dental plan. 

The Most Common Types of Dental Insurance for Children

Dental insurance plans vary depending on the service provider. The state you’re living in also dictates the type of coverage options to some extent. Be that as it may, the majority of plans usually offer 100% coverage for preventive dental treatments, diagnostic services, or a certain number of teeth cleanings per year. Also, for the children under 19, the Affordable Care Act made children’s dental services essential coverage. The dental insurance for kids can be part of their medical plan or can be a standalone plan. 

Further, not all dental insurance options and dental plans are the same, and some will require that you cover the part of expenses for certain treatments and procedures out of the pocket. Keep in mind that many plans work on the 100% – 80% – 50% principle, meaning they will cover 100% for standard preventative dental treatments and checkups, 80% for more complex procedures such as dental fillings and dental crowns, and 50% for orthodontic services. You will have to cover the rest. On top of that, some companies don’t offer dental plans for children but have family options that include coverage for pediatric dentistry services. In fact, only some companies will offer individual dental insurance options or dental plans for kids. That’s why you have to consider carefully all available options.

Don’t Forget About Waiting Periods

The majority of dental plans have certain waiting periods before you can use the services and before you’re eligible for full insurance service, so take that into account, too. 

Also, there are plans without waiting periods and your child could use dental services right away, but these plans are often more expensive. You should opt for this type of insurance in case your child needs dental treatment immediately and simply can’t wait for six months – which is an average waiting time for most plans – as it could cause additional dental problems or complications. So, if your kid needs more expensive treatment (whose price is close to that of the annual dental plan, which often happens if a child needs orthodontic services), opting for a more expensive solution seems entirely logical.

Other Things to Consider

Finding the right insurance company with the right dental plan for your child can prove to be quite an endeavor. You will have to perform thorough research and then compare various options to come up with the best possible decision. Numerous factors will affect your decision, but it is important to consider the following:

• The price of a monthly or annual premium for dental coverage
• Whether a dental insurance has a deductible, copays, and other additional expenses
• The amount for services you need to cover out of pocket
• Whether a dental insurance has any annual limits to benefits
• Whether a certain dental plan is available in your state
• The financial stability of the insurance company
• Whether the dental insurance company has a good customer support
• Whether they offer family or individual dental plans for children
• Whether a dental plan covers your kid’s needs.

In Conclusion

There are many things to consider when choosing the best dental insurance for your child, and we tried to give you a thorough guide on how to pick the one that will suit your needs. From limits, hidden expenses, annual premiums, and your child’s individual needs for dental treatments, we understand how overwhelming this can be, so we hope we made it at least a bit easier for you.

What type of dental plan or dental insurance option did you pick for your child? Did you regret it or would you recommend it to others? Tell us about it in the comments below!