Question re options under ACA

[matt819]

I'm just about done with the application process under ACA - evaluated plans, spoke to a local insurance agent, etc. One final question for anyone familiar with the ACA options - what's your take on adding the dental insurance option? I don't need child dental - those days are long past. But I wonder whether it's sensible to pay between $30 and $50/ month extra for what seems to me to very limited coverage. But I'm on the fence about this. Anyone?

[enlightenment]

1. Depends on your needs, I would think.

If you have strong teeth and a good dental history, it may not be worth it (especially since most of the dental plans are pretty weak). If you have issues - or think you will soon - it may be worth it. Even a little help paying for a restoration or crown or root canal can help defray the outrageous cost of dental treatment.

I suppose you could go with the time-honored insurance scare tactic "but WHAT IF . . .???!!" and buy it just in case. Personally, I'd do a self-assessment of need, calculate the cost of a broken tooth/restoration/crown/etc, and decide if you can bear the cost without the insurance.

[PoliticAverse]

2. What are the specifics of the dental coverage? n/t

[gvstn]

3. It depends on the coverage.

From what I have seen in the past, dental insurance is basically pre-paying the cost of your two cleanings a year. Any real dental work such as cavities etc. only receive a pittance.

I don't have dental insurance but pay about $300 a year for two cleanings. X-rays are extra every 2 yrs. My dentist occasionally replaces a filling. So I probably pay $500/yr. on average.

My mom always keeps dental insurance at about $40/mo. and whenever she has to have any "work" done she still pays at least 60% of the bill herself. Her "work" is usually more major which I guess is why she keeps her modest insurance.

I'm not really sure which is the best course. I've never had dental insurance offered from work (not one that would let me keep my dentist) and never really researched buying it on the open market.

[truedelphi]

5. It' not so much the $ 50 a month -

It's the fact that most dental plans allow for only 50% of coverage of a dental procedure. So if you are of moderate means, and have lousy credit to boot, there aren't many dentists that would undertake repair of your teeth until you somehow show them you can pay the huge costs of dental care.

If you have anywhere from !,000 bucks to 2,000 bucks set aside to undertake major dental procedures, or you have a credit card that would allow such, or if your teeth are in pretty good shape, it could be worth it.

If you're living pay check to paycheck, it could just cost you the extra 50 bucks, without any benefit. I loved the dental plan idea back when I was more affluent.

But in reality, it is the less well off paying to subsidize the costs of the more affluent.