Dental Insurance - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Rosie RV Thumper and Dog Dog · RV-Dreams Family Member

Dental Insurance

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

My dental insurance is real cheap.......I take my dentures put them Postal if it fits it ships(12.00) and away they go........simple field repair and back they come overnite (22.00)

simple cleaning....Efferdent 2.95 a box

Whitening............Clorox 1.65 a gallon

Tooth replacement......supper glue 2.00

Cavity....................Bondo......12.00

Tooth Ache..........Ice water soak in glass.....Free

Just had to do this......ROLFL!!!!!!!!!

igotjam · RV-Dreams Family Member

We found dental insurance too expensive. (your $100 looks really good though) In over 5 years fulltiming, we have occassionally come accross new dental clinics looking for new clients. They usually offer a new patient special in hopes you will come back. ($29 for cleaning, full X-rays and inspection) A lot of full timers like Mexico dentists at places like Progreeso (from TX) and Algodones (AZ & CA).

janieD · RV-Dreams Family Member

Dental insurance is usually very expensive for what you get. Take what you would pay in premiums and set up a savings account for your dental needs. If you take good care of your teeth you will end up with enough in the bank to take care of your needs like preventive care and emergencies. There are also ways to get good care along the way. When you need care check to see if there is a dental college or dental hygiene school, it takes longer but you will get excellent care at a much lower cost. I've been in the dental profession for about 30 years so I do know the costs can be large but usually if you do the math with the dental coverage and what you pay vs. what they pay you will end up ahead if you bank that premium and pay for your care. Also if you use a private dentist don't be afraid to ask if there is a discount for paying cash, they often would rather give a discount than wait for insurance reimbursement or have account receivable. Good luck to you.

3fortheroad · RV-Dreams Family Member

Janie is right on, start an account at your bank put what you can afford in too start the account and have the bank do an automatic deposit for you each month. If you have extra funds at the end of the month add that into the dental fund and as Janie says ask for a CASH discount.

Rosie RV Thumper and Dog Dog · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks for your thoughts everyone! I appreciate you for taking the time to reply.
Rosie

Technomadia · RV-Dreams Family Member

We have a high-deductible health insurance plan with an attached HSA (health savings account). The HSA can be used for any medical expense, including dental - despite not having insurance for that. And anything you put into the account is tax deductible on the first page of your 1040 - no itemization needed to deduct it as medical expenses. So we put money away in our HSAs, and use that for paying for our dental care as well as medical expenses.

And of course on top of that, we seek out dentists that have reasonable rates for cash paying customers.

- Cherie

3fortheroad · RV-Dreams Family Member

Technomadia wrote:
We have a high-deductible health insurance plan with an attached HSA (health savings account). The HSA can be used for any medical expense, including dental - despite not having insurance for that. And anything you put into the account is tax deductible on the first page of your 1040 - no itemization needed to deduct it as medical expenses. So we put money away in our HSAs, and use that for paying for our dental care as well as medical expenses.

And of course on top of that, we seek out dentists that have reasonable rates for cash paying customers.

- Cherie

Cherie at the company I worked for we had an insurance plan that was vary similar if not the same. What I didn't like with ours was that what ever monies we put into the HSA and didn't use in the calendar year was forfeited.

janieD · RV-Dreams Family Member

On the HSA account. Great idea if you can get it with your insurance. Ron, you may be thinking of an FSA vs an HSA. They are similar but the FSA had to be used in that calendar year where an HSA is a savings account that continues year after year and in some cases can go with you. We have had both when my husband worked. Our last one was an HSA and even now when we are retired and can no longer contribute to that account (just the way this one is set up) we still have what is in there and can use it for our medical expenses.

franmoor · RV-Dreams Community Member

I think that's a very reasonable rate for a dental insurance since I've heard that dental care really costs much. I don't have dental insurance yet but I'm planning to get one. I just want to know what usually does dental insurance covers when it comes to dental care. Does it covers everything your teeth needs or not? Thanks to those who will answer my concern.

3fortheroad · RV-Dreams Family Member

janieD wrote:
On the HSA account. Great idea if you can get it with your insurance. Ron, you may be thinking of an FSA vs an HSA. They are similar but the FSA had to be used in that calendar year where an HSA is a savings account that continues year after year and in some cases can go with you. We have had both when my husband worked. Our last one was an HSA and even now when we are retired and can no longer contribute to that account (just the way this one is set up) we still have what is in there and can use it for our medical expenses.

Thanks Janie for the clarification, I just remember the similarity.

Technomadia · RV-Dreams Family Member

Correct... a HSA does not have to be spent each year :) High deductible HSAs is generally the only reasonably affordable insurance option for us self employed folks buying insurance in the open individual market. I believe FSAs are more common on employer contributed group health plans?

- Cherie

3fortheroad · RV-Dreams Family Member

I full access to VA Medical and includes dental, we both have the TRI-CARE for LIFE plan. But Sharon does not have Dental. We have been doing just as Janie suggests by putting extra money into our emergency fund each month to help cover our deductibles and dental for her.

Trabuco · RV-Dreams Family Member

I had a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for 10 + years. They had to be used up each year or you lost the money. When employment ends so does the FSA.