Keep Your Kid’s Teeth Healthy With Proper Dental Insurance
Learn Your Options on Pediatric Dental Coverage
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a quarter of all children in the United States do not have pediatric dental coverage. This is despite the fact that about 23 percent of children between 2 and 11 years old have one decayed and untreated tooth. While many parents are looking for dental saving plans, most lack necessary knowledge regarding dental insurance for kids. Many are also not aware of their options.
How Pediatric Dental Coverage Works
Family dental insurance plans are an affordable way to pay for dental services. These plans take the model used in buyers clubs. What this means is that you pay an annual fee to gain access to a dentist network. These plans give you special savings and low costs compared to what you would typically pay out of pocket. There are several advantages to being under a pediatric dental coverage plan. For starters, these plans offer more services compared to traditional dental insurance plans.
If you have a traditional dental plan, then in most cases braces and other add-ons are not included. However, under these dental plans, you will get a discounted rate for braces. Furthermore, these plans have no exclusions if you have pre-existing conditions. There are also no annual caps introduced on the fees. All you need is to pay the discounted rate, and you have access to a family dental insurance plan.
Pediatric Dental Care Options
If you are searching for a dental plan for your child, you can get it through Medicaid/CHIP, through your employer, or via the Health Insurance Exchange. There are many options when it comes to dental insurance for kids.
Medicaid and CHIP
States are mandated to provide dental benefits to kids who are covered under the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and Medicaid. Under Medicaid, all enrolled children are entitled to Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) services. EPSDT includes all dental services that are medically necessary. The minimum guidelines under this plan include:
- Tooth restoration
- Relief of pain
- Treatment of tooth infections
- Dental health maintenance.
Each state is expected to post a list of all the participating CHIP and Medicaid dental providers. To qualify under Medicaid or CHIP, the parent's income must be below a certain threshold.
Through an Employer
If you or the other parent has a health insurance plan through an employer, then there can be a provision to include your children. Finding out the details of such a plan is essential. Find out the stipulated ages, features of the plans, exclusions, and any additional charges or annual caps that come with the plan. You also need to ask questions such as: can medical insurance cover dental dentures, braces, and other implants? Once you have this information, scrutinize it and make an informed decision on whether you need to get a separate plan for your kids, or to include them in your employer package.
Through a Health Insurance Exchange
It is a requirement that all states implement their own exchange. This health exchange program is either run by the state or federal government. Under this plan, the government offers pediatric dental insurance plans.
Kid's Dental Insurance Advice
Pediatric dental plans cover children until they turn 19 years old. While most plans offer relief through subsidized rates, they are priced differently. As a parent, you must consider your options carefully and commit to a plan that is sustainable with regard to your budget and the needs of your kids. Obtain different plans and analyze them based on the features and the services you are getting. Read the fine print in each of the plans so that there are no surprises or complications in the future.
