Hello, World. I'm getting up in age and will need some dentures in the future. What plans does the Hive recommends for the Self-Employed? Thanks for any help.
Hello, World. I'm getting up in age and will need some dentures in the future. What plans does the Hive recommends for the Self-Employed? Thanks for any help.
What makes you think you're going to need dentures? I rarely do them in my practice, just not that common anymore.
As far as being self employed and insurance, you're better off starting up a Health Savings Account and just paying out of pocket. Most of the dental insurances available don't make financial sense unless an employer is subsidizing the costs.
I pay out of pocket for dental care. Seems about a wash for my family compared to insurance as long as you budget for an occasional filling, crown or root canal. .
My dental work has started getting expensive the last few years, but my HSA has been perfectly adequate to cover it.
docwyte said:As far as being self employed and insurance, you're better off starting up a Health Savings Account and just paying out of pocket. Most of the dental insurances available don't make financial sense unless an employer is subsidizing the costs.
A couple of weeks ago I was at my dentist for a semi-annual checkup and asked the billing lady what do people on medicare do about dental insurance. At my next visit, I may be on medicare. She pretty much said to save your money and pay out of pocket. Some of the medicare supplemental policies may have some dental coverage, but supplemental dental insurance isn't worth it.
Some dentists have discount programs you can buy into. Others will give you a cash pay discount. Just ask - without asking you definitely won’t get any discount! ;)
I'm getting a filling done in an hour, $108 cash & carry from my dentist. Self employed, no dental insurance. The office manager told me even with the crappy insurance I had last year, it would have been about the same price. So I dropped the laughably bad dental insurance this year, and am paying just under $800 to have three fillings done and a wisdom tooth pulled (with NOS). Cheaper than what I paid in premiums last year, so I'm already ahead.
In reply to docwyte :
Maybe I don't need Dentures but definitely have some teeth that are rotted. Caps maybe?
As an employer, I have priced a lot of dental. The above comments are 100% true—it’s not insurance so much as prepaying with the hope (?) you need the maximum work to get your money back. Better to save your $ and earn the interest.
Margie
In reply to Chada75 :
Depends on how much tooth is left and how many teeth we're talking about....
spitfirebill said:docwyte said:As far as being self employed and insurance, you're better off starting up a Health Savings Account and just paying out of pocket. Most of the dental insurances available don't make financial sense unless an employer is subsidizing the costs.
A couple of weeks ago I was at my dentist for a semi-annual checkup and asked the billing lady what do people on medicare do about dental insurance. At my next visit, I may be on medicare. She pretty much said to save your money and pay out of pocket. Some of the medicare supplemental policies may have some dental coverage, but supplemental dental insurance isn't worth it.
That's been my experience as well. My HMO stopped reimbursing Dentist their costs as a result forcing me to use the HMO's 3rd world dentists.
The resulting work cost me two teeth and a snag on the one filling.
Since that experiance I paid cash for work from dentists I trust. But do-not plan on using dentures. I spent months and months of trying to get mine not to hurt when they are in. Without ever getting them properly adjusted. Trip after trip back and no success. They are now a very expensive night stand ornament.
I'm going for the implants.
docwyte said:In reply to Chada75 :
Depends on how much tooth is left and how many teeth we're talking about....
Plus where they are. You may be able to avoid implants or partials with a crown and bridge.
Really need to talk to a trusted dentist. Your teeth is one area not to cheap out in. They honestly affect your life length and comfort. Every time I tried to find a bargain it really cost me a lot more.
In reply to frenchyd :
Hopefully he talked to one in the 3.5 years since he started this thread :)
My advice still hasn't changed. I will add that I don't work on "price shoppers". If you're looking for a deal, you're not the type of person I want to work on. In my experience that type of person is never happy with any type of work done and god help you if there are complications.
You'll need to log in to post.
