Advantages and disadvantages of managed care and dental indemnity insurance

If you are considering managed care dental insurance, do consider the following advantages and disadvantages of this type of insurance:

1. Lower out-of-pocket costs for dental care
   Since managed care does not rely on deductibles or on up-front payments in many cases, you will have to pay less up front for a dentist visit or dental care. Since network dentists also offer immediate discounts to insurance policy holders, your overall dental care costs will be smaller right away.
2. Reliance on network dental care professionals
   One of the big disadvantages of managed care dental insurance is that you will have to select your dentist from a list. Depending on how extensive the network of dentists is, you may or may not have a hard time finding a dentists with the specialization you would like to see. Plus, if you travel, you may find yourself responsible for all dental care costs because you may not be able to find a network dentist where you travel.
3. Little dental care paperwork or claims
   One of the advantages of managed care dental insurance is that it is less of a hassle. The insurance company will usually pay the dentist without demur and the dentist will often even sent in the paperwork to your insurance company directly. This means that all you have to do is show your insurance number or card.

If you are considering a dental indemnity plan, you will want to consider the advantages and disadvantages of such a plan as well:

1. You can choose your own dentist with a dental indemnity plan.
   With this type of dental insurance, you can select the best of the best or you can choose the dentist with the exact qualifications you want. When you travel, you do not have to worry that your dentist will not be part of some network.
2. With a dental indemnity plan, you may face more hassle
   You will have to pay deductibles or up-front amounts and then try to claim reimbursement from your insurance provider. If your provider disagrees that the dental work was covered by your plan, you may have to face a long battle of complicated forms, complaints, and claims.
3. With a dental indemnity plan, you may face shorter waiting times
   Some dentists do not have a great relationship with insurance providers offering managed care dental insurance. In fact, some dentists feel underpaid by such programs. If this is true of your dentist, he or she may be more willing to make room for you in their schedule if they see that you are not part of such a program.

Whether you choose dental indemnity insurance, individual indemnity dental insurance, or some type of managed care dental insurance, the fact is that the type of insurance you select will depend on your budget and needs. While there is truly no “best” insurance policy, each insurance policy type has some advantage and drawbacks. Considering the types of dental insurance available on the market today can help you make the right decision to care for your teeth and gums.