Maybe you only have room in your budget for a traditional health insurance plan. Or you don’t get dental benefits through your employer, and you’re looking for another choice.

Dental insurance is a good way to track your oral health. But you may have other ways to get dental care.

One such solution could be a dental discount product. (You might also see this called a dental discount membership.) They offer you a way to save money on certain dental services, but it is important to note that these are not insurance plans.

How can you save using a dental discount product? Find out below.

What is a dental discount product?

When you purchase a dental discount product, you will have access to certain services at a discounted rate through participating dental providers (also known as network providers). The dentist has already agreed to accept the discounted network price for those services. These could be dental services like:

• Braces (in some cases)
• Crowns
• Extractions
• Fillings
• Routine dental exams
• Teeth cleanings
• X-rays

Let’s say you’re seeing a dentist who participates in the network associated with the dental discount product you purchased. The amount you pay for dental services could be lower than what the dentist typically charges. That’s because the dentist has agreed to offer the network price to those with the dental discount membership.

Think of it like a membership you pay at a discount shopping club. You’ll pay a membership fee and get access to discounted items that may cost more at other stores.

It’s important to understand that a dental discount product isn’t a replacement for dental insurance. For example, let’s say you need a dental procedure, like a root canal. If you didn’t have dental insurance, a dental discount product could help you save money on the procedure, but it could still get expensive quickly.

You might be surprised to learn how accessible dental insurance can be. Plus, regular teeth cleanings and X-rays may come at no cost to you with a plan. Explore plans today.

How much does a dental discount membership cost?

The cost of a dental discount membership will depend largely on the product and the state you live in. You may pay the membership fee on a monthly or annual basis. (Annual payments may come with a discount for committing to a full year of membership up front.) In addition, you may have to pay a one-time processing fee when you enroll. This fee is usually $30, or less, but is not refundable in most states.

However, dental discount products tend to be less expensive than what you might pay for a dental insurance premium. This monthly or annual fee is what you pay to access the discounted rates for dental services.

How are dental discount products different from dental insurance?

Here are some key differences between dental discount products and dental insurance plans:

• You pay for dental services directly. With dental discount products, you pay membership fees to receive discounts on specified services at participating dental providers. Then you pay your dentist, who’s participating in the plan, directly for those services. You don’t need to submit claims to an insurance company to get reimbursed.
• You have simplified fees. With dental discount products, you pay a flat, pre-negotiated fee for each dental service. With dental insurance plans, you might have to meet a deductible for the insurer to start paying for certain covered services, and/or you may be responsible for copayments (copays) or coinsurance. Copayments are fixed fees you might pay for covered dental services. For example, you might pay a $25 copay to see your dentist. When it comes to coinsurance, you might have to pay 20% of a dental procedure while your insurance covers 80%. Once your responsibility is met for a dental insurance plan (deductible, copay, and/or coinsurance), the plan pays the rest up to the annual maximum.
• You won’t be subject to annual maximums. Dental insurance plans often have a maximum annual benefit. That’s the most your insurance plan will cover for dental services during a plan year. For example, your dental insurance plan may cover up to $2,000 per year. Dental discount products don’t have these maximums — but you will have to pay the discounted rate for dental services up front.
• You won’t be subject to limits on certain procedures. Dental insurance plans often have limits on the number of procedures you can receive within a certain time-period. However, a dental discount product typically does not limit procedures. You can receive the discount as long as it’s a qualifying procedure at a participating provider.
• You won’t be subject to waiting periods. Dental discount products typically don’t have waiting periods before you can get dental services. That’s unlike some dental insurance plans, which may have a waiting period of several months, or even up to a year, before certain services are covered.

What’s the most important difference between the two? Dental discount products aren’t meant to replace dental insurance. Dental discount products help you save on certain dental services, but don’t “cover” you for them like dental insurance might.

For example, if you needed a filling, your dental insurance might pay part of the cost. But if your dental discount product didn’t include fillings, you might have to pay the full price of the filling out of pocket.

Get this: Fillings and root canals might not mean major medical bills. Learn how dental insurance can cover you.

Do dental discount products require me to submit a claim?

If you have dental insurance and go to a dentist who’s in your plan’s network, the dentist typically files a claim with your insurance company. The insurance company then processes the claim and pays the dentist.

You’ll then pay any deductible, copayments and/or coinsurance, either at the time of service or after the claim is processed, depending on the dental practice. Dentists who are out of your plan’s network may require you to pay at the time of service. Then the insurance company would pay you back.

Dental discount products do away with the claims process entirely. Since you’re paying for the dental services up front at the discounted rate, the dentist doesn’t need to wait to be paid.

What is the best dental discount product for you?

The best dental discount product for you depends on your own situation. For example, maybe you need braces, and your dental insurance plan doesn’t cover orthodontia. (Orthodontia is a dental specialty that addresses misaligned teeth, jaws and bite patterns.) You’d want to look for a dental discount product that has local orthodontists in its network.

You might also want to check if a dental discount product offers additional discounts, such as:

• Hearing (exams and/or hearing aids)
• Vision (glasses and contacts
• Prescription drugs

Depending on your situation, these additional discounts may be helpful even if you don’t have an immediate need for the dental discounts.

Does your health insurance not include dental benefits? A stand-alone dental insurance plan can be an option. Learn more today, or call a licensed insurance agent at 1-844-211-7730 for more information.

For informational purposes only. This information is compiled by UnitedHealthcare, and/or one of its affiliates, and does not diagnose problems or recommend specific treatment. Services and medical technologies referenced herein may not be covered under your plan. Please consult directly with your primary care physician if you need medical advice. 

Compliance code:
52036-X-0325