Trying to cut dental costs? Here's how membership plans stack up against insurance.
A recent survey found that up to 45% of Americans skipped going to the dentist last year — despite the essential role a healthy mouth plays in your overall health. We’re not surprised. Dental care is expensive, even with insurance.
Fortunately, there are ways to lower your expenses, and ensure you get the dental care you need. Read on.
Going to the dentist can be pricey. Sure, preventative care like annual cleanings and X-rays are usually covered by dental insurance (if you have it). But, anything else is likely to come with a high price tag, all the more so if you don’t have insurance. For example:
And, it’s worth noting that anything deemed “cosmetic” is unlikely to be covered by dental insurance. This category may include services you don’t necessarily think of as cosmetic, such as adult braces.
There are a number of ways you can bring dentist costs down, with the most obvious example being dental insurance.
Dental insurance works much like health insurance, with both HMO and PPO plans available. In exchange for coverage, you pay a monthly premium. This dental insurance monthly cost can range from $20 to $80 a month for an individual.
In addition to the premium, you may also pay copays for individual services, which are fixed amounts the insurer agrees to pay for covered services. Typically, dental insurance covers 100% of preventative care (e.g., routine exams, cleanings, and X-rays), and between 50% to 80% of other services such as fillings, root canals, dentures, and implants.
Insurance plans may also include a deductible, which is the amount you have to pay out of pocket before your insurance covers the rest, as well as an annual maximum, which is the maximum amount your insurance will pay per year for any dental services.
Whether or not you have dental insurance, you can save on dental costs by calling different dental offices for a price check, or getting care through a local dental school, which usually offer dental care for a reduced cost. Dental membership plans are another option that are becoming increasingly popular as dental costs continue to rise.
With dental membership programs, you pay a subscription fee — usually amounting to a few hundred dollars per year — in return for discounts on dental care. Depending on the service, the discounts can range from 10% – 60% off.
It is important to note that there may not be “coverage” for specific services; rather, you enjoy a discount on select services. For example, the dental membership plan may offer you 20% off veneers, or a 50% discount on regular cleaning (though some plans may include 1–2 cleanings per year in your subscription fee). You then pay the rest out of pocket at the time of service.
Dental subscription programs can be purchased privately or directly through your dental office, if your dentist offers it. Similar to insurance, a dental membership program cannot be used just anywhere; you’ll need to find dentists who are part of the plan. The plans are also typically good for one year, similar to insurance.
Yes! You can use a dental membership plan hand-in-hand with your insurance plan. In fact, this can be an especially smart move if you plan to get extensive or cosmetic work done. However, you will have to choose which one you want to apply at the time you pay for a dental service. In other words, you can't combine coverage. But, having both plans can dramatically increase your savings on dental care and make various services more affordable.
For example, you might use your insurance to cover annual cleanings and X-rays, since those are typically 100% covered by insurance, bringing your out-of-pocket costs (beyond your premiums) down to $0. But, if you need to get a crown or fill a cavity, the discounts offered by a dental membership plan may actually make the service cheaper than whatever your insurance will cover. And, if you want to get any cosmetic services done, like braces, you’ll only be able to score a discount with a dental discount program.
As with most things in life, it depends on your situation. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of having a dental membership plan, with and without insurance.
Here’s a quick look at the key differences between dental savings plans and dental insurance.
| Dental Membership Plan | Dental insurance | |
| Coverage Cost | Annual membership fee, usually $200 – $300, or monthly membership fee of $25 – $35 | Monthly premium, usually $20 – $80 |
| What’s Included |
|
|
| Annual Coverage Limit | None, discounts always apply | $500 – $2,500. Any costs above that must be paid out of pocket. |
| Waiting Periods | None, discounts begin as soon as you pay the membership fee | May have to wait several months before coverage applies for certain procedures |
| How Payment Works | You pay the membership program subscription fee directly, with any additional fees paid directly to your dentist. | You pay a monthly premium to your insurance company, pay a copay to your dentist, and then wait for insurance to process your claim before they send you an additional bill (if applicable). |
Are you sick of overspending at the dentist? Meet Subcribili, a dental membership plan that’s making dental care more affordable.
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We're a health technology company building a platform to help underinsured Americans get the essential care they need at a reasonable price.
The Subscribili Subscription Plans are not insurance, but a licensed treatment savings subscription plan offered through our offices. Subscribers in good standing with their annual subscription fee are eligible to receive transparent, subscriber-only discounts from the normal retail fees that participating offices typically charge self-pay patients for treatment. Plan details and subscriber savings are exclusive to participating offices and may vary by location. Subscribili does not make payments directly to care providers for services rendered to plan subscribers. Subscribers are obligated to pay for all care services, but will receive a discount on services rendered by participating care providers. The plan is not a qualified health plan under the Affordable Health Act. The plan does not meet the minimum creditable coverage requirements under MGLC.111M and 956 CMR 5.00. Discount Medical Plan Organization (“DMPO”) and plan administrator: Subscribili Inc. 5900 Balcones Drive, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78731.
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