Dental bills can be extremely costly, making dental insurance an important part of maintaining your dental health. For the self-employed, however, dental insurance can be difficult to obtain. Fortunately, there are several dental insurance providers that offer plans for the self-employed. When searching for dental insurance for self-employed individuals, comparing different insurance plans and getting answers to questions before making a decision is invaluable. Dental insurance can be extremely confusing and overwhelming and without the proper information it is near impossible to choose the plan that's right for your needs. The top three providers you should consider when looking for dental insurance for the self-employed are Cigna, Aetna and Humana, all of which provide comprehensive plans for individuals who are self-employed. Below are some commonly asked questions about these top three providers, to help you find the one that's right for you.
Generally, PPOs are much more low-cost than HMOs but they do have some downsides. PPO plans only let the patient go to certain pre-approved dentists and do not allow as many freedoms when choosing which dentist to attend. HMOs are more costly, but allow the patient to choose which dentist they wish to see. Cigna allows patients to see any dentist they'd like, but provides larger rewards via cheaper costs to those who see dentists within a pre-approved network.
While dual coverage is an option, it is not necessarily advisable. Double coverage simply eliminates certain out of coverage costs but does not provide any huge advantage that makes paying for two plans worthwhile.
Enrolling in any of the mentioned insurance programs is as easy as going to the provider's website and requesting a quote. Each site will ask for straightforward information to be provided. Another option for those who are unable to apply online is to apply via phone.
Do not hesitate to renew a dental insurance plan. Waiting to long for coverage allows for too many risks. Whether the renewed plan be from Cigna, Aetna, or Humana, having a plan is a necessity to stay protected. The best suggestion to deal with a need for renewal would be to consider the three providers and what they have to offer and then decide as to whether switching to one of them would be a better option for 2017.
Humana offers reduced prices without having to deal with any pesky waiting period. Humana also is extremely optimized in regard to signing up online, allowing you to easily secure their discounted rates. Aetna also provides extremely low rates, but those do come at the sacrifice of certain coverage options
While Aetna and Cigna provide amazing coverage, they do not provide a full-coverage dental plan. Humana is the best option for those who are looking for an insurance plan that provides full coverage. It should be noted that having a full-coverage dental insurance plan will cost more, so if there is an issue of affordability a full-coverage program might not be the way to go.
Aetna's discount program is meant to help save patients a significant amount of money when going to visit the dentist. Just by showing the provided discount card, patients can instantly save up to 50% off the cost of services.
Family plans save money when purchasing insurance for more than one person. While costs may vary based on whether the insurance is from Cigna, Humana, or Aetna, generally the costs are significantly cheaper since multiple people are committing to a single-family plan.