Can anyone help? Dental insurance?

[Edwina's Secretary]

It sounds like it might be a DHMO. This is a plan where you must go to a dentist who has agreed to be in the program. There is a fixed co-pay for each procedure.

If you are not attached to your current dentist - or your current dentist participates in your plan - this can be a very good deal.

When we relocated to California we went with a DHMO because it was so much less expensive than a traditional indemnity plan. We had no ties to a specific dentist so it was not a big deal.

You should be given a list of the co-pay amounts before you make your decision. Ask for it. The carrier (thru the employer) must give it to you.

Do be aware that dentist can try and "upsell" you. "Your plan covers crowns in this ugly dingy color and for a few hundred more dollars out of your pocket you can get this better looking crown" -- that sort of thing.

[JenBKR]

It sounds like it might be a DHMO. This is a plan where you must go to a dentist who has agreed to be in the program. There is a fixed co-pay for each procedure.

If you are not attached to your current dentist - or your current dentist participates in your plan - this can be a very good deal.

When we relocated to California we went with a DHMO because it was so much less expensive than a traditional indemnity plan. We had no ties to a specific dentist so it was not a big deal.

You should be given a list of the co-pay amounts before you make your decision. Ask for it. The carrier (thru the employer) must give it to you.

Do be aware that dentist can try and "upsell" you. "Your plan covers crowns in this ugly dingy color and for a few hundred more dollars out of your pocket you can get this better looking crown" -- that sort of thing.

Yes that sounds like what this is. My dentist is not on the plan, and I do like him, but I don't have a problem switching dentists. I do have a list of the copay amounts, it's 5 pages long so I am still going through it. The prices seem pretty good though.