Even with two working parents, household finances can still be tight. Trying to receive value for every dollar they spend, more heads of households are seeking to rein in their family’s medical expenses. Some are taking a closer look at the health insurance that their employer offers, including their dental insurance, and exploring other options in that marketplace.
Some of the issues with the dental insurance provided through an employer are the set monetary limits on the amount of coverage the carrier will underwrite, even after their deductible has been met. Another is that most health insurance will not cover seniors, procedures that are considered non-routine as well as preexisting conditions. Once someone signs up for an employer’s insurance carrier, there may be a waiting period as long as a year or more before some procedures will be covered.
This way large and extended multi-generational families must pay the costs for routine and specialized dental care such as crowns, implants, and bridges entirely out-of-pocket. For families, especially larger ones, this can put them in a financial situation should even one member of the family require extensive dental care.
For seniors, their medication costs are usually covered by Medicare. This makes their dental care the largest out-of-pocket expense for many retirees. Maintaining healthy teeth is expensive, however, and many seniors opt out of dental coverage altogether. According to the National Association of Dental Plans, only about 30% of older persons have dental coverage compared with 54% of working age adults and 80% of children.
Affordable Dental Care on a Fixed income
Advancing age puts seniors at risk for oral health issues. There is a greater risk of gum disease and tooth loss from neglecting dental health, root decay caused by worn away tooth enamel, dry mouth due to medications, and stained teeth from a number of causes. The good news is that regular dental visits can correct or prevent these issues from occurring or recurring. EDP’s affordable dental plans can make dental health for seniors to young families possible.
Healthy teeth and gums are vital to overall health. Yet as shown, some heads of household do not carry dental health insurance for themselves and their families, even if their employer offers it. Cost considerations are usually the reason. However our mouths produce plaque daily, and if left untreated, plaque results in tooth decay and gum disease. Even more troubling is the fact that the bacteria from plaque can also spread throughout the body causing considerable harm. This fact is thought-provoking and underscores the importance of routine dental visits.
It is just not wise, nor legal, to forgo health care coverage. Twice yearly dental visits are the foundation for our bodies’ health and well-being. To multiply those twice-yearly health requirements by the average size family could equal financial distress. What many families are discovering is that it is possible to have affordable dental options that include every member of an even extended family. The solution is a dental plan such as EDP Dental Plans.
EDP is not dental insurance. Instead its practitioners provide services at a reduced fee to EDP Dental Plan members. Our dental plans provide an affordable dental care alternative to traditional dental insurance. Unlike traditional insurance, one can join EDP Dental Plans at any time of the year. There are no open enrollment periods. Our plans do not have spending caps, deductibles, or exclusions for preexisting conditions. When a member enrolls, they are immediately eligible to be seen by one of our participating dentists. There are no age restrictions, either.
Those who feel that affordable dental coverage is beyond their means should consider an EDP Dental Plan. EDP is not dental insurance; it is a low-cost dental insurance alternative. Our members receive discounts from a network of leading dental practitioners and specialists for an affordable monthly or annual fee. There are even further discounts for those who sign up for multi-year membership. This is great news for anyone who has been seeking dental care on a tight budget.
Low Cost Dental Coverage Is Not Cut Rate Dental Care
EDP Dental Plan has stringent qualifications for its dental professionals and only accepts the highest caliber practitioners. Those who sign up for an EDP Dental Plan have immediate access to any practitioner in our extensive network. New members often discover that their long-time family dentist is already part of EDP’s network.
Also, when our members require the service of a dental specialist, they quickly learn that the EDP network includes the best pediatric dentists, oral surgeons, orthodontists, periodontists, pedodontists, endodontists, and prosthodontists. Members may visit any specialist in our network at a 25% reduction of the participating specialist’s regular office fees.
Remember, there is no ceiling on the amount of dental care any member or member’s family can receive within a calendar year. Nor is there a limit to the number of visits to the dentist that singles, couples or families can schedule, either. This way, when extensive dental work is required, patients do not have to spread their treatment over a period of years to qualify for treatment or coverage.
For families who have been seeking low cost yet high quality dental coverage, there is no reason to neglect their dental health any longer. Contact EDP Dental Plans today at 1.800.777.1085.
