Health Insurance Buyer?s Guide

categorized into indemnity and managed-care plans.

If you choose an indemnity plan you will have a broader choice of dental care providers to choose from.  You won’t have to choose one primary dentist and generally, you won’t need to acquire referrals for special services.  In order for the insurance company to cover your dental expenses you will need to send them a claim for reimbursement.  You’ll end up paying more out-of-pocket with an indemnity plan, but you will have more flexibility in choosing which dentists you visit.

By contrast, managed-care plans limit you to the doctors and services within a dental services network, and you will need to visit doctors within this network in order to get coverage for their services.  Within the dental care network, your insurance company has arranged pre-negotiated rates that you will receive when you visit dentists in the network.  Your dentist will submit your insurance claim for you, keeping your out-of-pocket expenses lower than with an indemnity plan.

Compare the Plans

Comparing insurance plans is an important step in buying health insurance.  It will save you money in the long run if you take the time to compare premium prices, out-of-pocket costs, plan benefits, the network of physicians available with different plans, and the quality of insurance providers.  If you have a favorite physician, make sure your health insurance covers visits to him or