My Insurance Doesn’t Include Dental. Now What?

 

woman at dentist have teeth examinedWe had another successful webinar yesterday. I can’t believe it was our third one! I’m getting into a rhythm and having fun sharing healthcare tips with you in this way. I hope you are enjoying it, too.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to answer your questions. Thank you so much to those of you who sent your questions in. There were some great ones!

One of the questions I received was “What if my medical insurance doesn’t include dental?”

This is the case sometimes. Often dental insurance is provided separately from medical insurance, possibly through a different provider altogether.

First, check with your employer to make sure. Maybe dental coverage is available to you and you didn’t realize it or didn’t fill out the paperwork for it when you were hired. If it is an option, go ahead and sign up.

If your employer doesn’t offer dental insurance, look for a stand-alone dental plan. You can find these from a variety of providers.

Before you sign up, though, consider your dental care needs.

Are your teeth generally in good shape? Is your primary reason for visiting the dentist to get your routine cleaning? If so, compare the costs of the dental insurance to the costs of a dental visit if you were to pay fully out-of-pocket. You may find that dental insurance isn’t worth the cost if all you plan to use it for are twice-per-year cleanings.

If you tend to have more dental needs–like a history of cavities, root canals, crowns, and so on–then you’ll probably want to invest in a dental insurance plan that will help offset some of this pricier work.

Thank you to one of our readers for submitting that great question.

 

Your Healthcare Questions Answered

Lori-AnnThis is your chance. You know you have questions about your healthcare, whether it’s how to find the right physician for you, knowing the right questions to ask your doctor, why insurance is so confusing, and so on. Maybe you’re curious about how to handle your caring for your aging parents or deciding when to move them into assisted living. Whatever your question, now is your chance to ask the expert.

I have more than 30 years of experience working with healthcare professionals. I also got my (now grown) daughter through an illness at infancy and helped my dad with his healthcare and assisted living needs. I know how to get through these things as easily as possible and with minimal cost. So go ahead. Ask me anything.

Join me on Wednesday, January 27, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern for my latest webinar: Ask Lori-Ann Your Healthcare Questions. Register now.

You can bring your questions to the webinar or submit them in advance by email or on Facebook or Twitter.

Can’t wait to connect with you on Wednesday!

 

How can I learn about doctor and hospital quality of care?

Caucasian woman holding baby  and typing on laptop computer in kI get questions all the time about which doctor to visit or which local hospital is the best for certain services. There are many resources available to evaluate care.

First, start by asking your friends, family, and co-workers for recommendations. Hearing the experiences of people you trust offers helpful insights as you research your options.

There are also many websites dedicated to rating doctors and hospitals. Here are two that I like:

Healthgrades (www.healthgrades.com) is a website that allows you to search doctors, dentists and hospitals in your location. Patient satisfaction reviews are available to read comments and you can search doctors by specialty.

The Leapfrog Group (www.leapfroggroup.org) performs hospital surveys and provides comparable results on their website. They assess hospitals on how patients fare, resources used to care for patients, and leadership and structures that promote patient safety.

These are great places to start, but remember to continue your own research. Look at doctor’s credentials. See where they went to medical school, where they did their residency, and where they practice.

I always recommend calling the doctor’s office before committing. Make sure the doctor is covered by your health plan and accepting new patients. (Remember to ask the right question.) Also make sure the receptionist is courteous and professional. A rude greeting could be a sign that the practice is disrespectful of patients in general.

Most importantly, make sure you’re comfortable when you visit with the doctor. It is important that you can be open with your doctor and that you trust your doctor’s advice.

All this month we are answering your questions and we will be answering even more in this month’s webinar Ask Lori-Ann Your Healthcare Questions on January 27, 2016 at 2 p.m. Eastern. Reserve your spot now! Bring your questions to the webinar or submit them in advance by email or on Facebook or Twitter.