Types of Dental Insurance Plans – Dental Insurance Plus
What are the differnt types of dental insurance plans?
1) PPO or Preferred Provider Organization falls somewhere between an indemnity plan and a dental HMO. This plan allows a particular group of patients to receive dental care from a defined panel of individual dental insurance dentists. This type could be used to provide dental gap insurance.
The participating individual or family office agrees to charge less than usual fees to this specific patient base, providing savings for the plan purchaser. If the patient chooses to see one who is not designated as a “preferred provider,” that patient may be required to pay a greater share of the fee-for-service.
2) DHMO/HMO Dental Health Maintenance Organization insurance plans, also known as “capitation plans,” operate like their medical HMO cousins. This type of dental plan provides a comprehensive dental care to enrolled patients through designated provider office.
A Dental Health Maintenance Organization (DHMO) is a common example of a capitation plan. The individual and family dentist is paid on a per capita (per person) basis rather than for actual treatment provided.
3) Discount or Referral Dental Plans contracts with a group of dentists and these dentists agree to discount their dental fees. Discounts are usually applied to all services including cosmetic. These plans do not pay for any services received, instead, you pay for treatment yourself at the reduced rate determined by the plan.
