​PPO Dental Insurance vs. HMO Dental Insurance

PPO Dental Insurance Plans
Dental PPO insurance plans, also known as dental preferred provider organizations or DPPOs, are a popular dental insurance option due to their flexibility in allowing insured members to choose dentists and dental specialists. Typically, PPO dental insurance plans are said to offer better service and have less limitations than HMO dental insurance plans, but the premiums are usually more costly. Businesses often use PPO dental insurance plans to provide their employees with a valuable dental benefit. PPO dental insurance plans are used by individuals and families as well.
 
Dental preferred provider organizations are managed care organizations with a network of dentists under contract with a dental insurance carrier. This network of dentists provides dental PPO insurance plan members with special rates on dental care. The rates are usually lower if the insured member selects a primary dentist and/or dental specialists from the dental PPO network, but the insured individual still has the freedom to choose a dental care provider outside of the established network.
 
Direct buy PPO Dental Plans are available through the following carriers: Humana, Delta Dental, Nationwide and Renaissance and Careington.
 
Covered California offers PPO Dental Plans through the following carriers: Anthem Blue Cross, Delta Dental, and Premier Access.

An unhealthy mouth, especially if you have gum disease, may increase your risk of serious health problems such as heart attack, stroke, poorly controlled diabetes and preterm labor.

​HMO Dental Insurance Plans
Dental HMO insurance plans, also known as dental health maintenance organizations or DHMOs, are usually much cheaper than PPO dental insurance plans and dental indemnity insurance plans. HMO dental insurance plans have networks of dentists under contract with the dental insurance company that offer dental services to insured members at pre-determined rates. HMO dental insurance plans are usually used by businesses to insure their employees, but can be used by individuals and families as well. Individuals who do not receive dental insurance through their employers often turn to HMO dental insurance plans as an option.
 
One of the main advantages of HMO dental insurance plans is that they usually have lower premiums than the other dental insurance options. Regrettably, HMO dental insurance plans have been known to impose strict restrictions on insured members. For example, the dental HMO will not provide a reimbursement if the insured sees a dentist that is not in their network. People insured with HMO dental insurance plans must select a primary dentist from a pre-approved list. All referrals to dental specialists must be provided by the primary dentist.
 
Covered California offers HMO Dental Plans through the following carriers: California Dental Network, Dental Health Services, Delta Dental, Access Dental, and Liberty Dental Plan of California.

Healthy teeth are important to your child's overall health. From the time your child is born, there are things you can do to promote healthy teeth and prevent cavities. For babies, you should clean teeth with a soft, clean cloth or baby's toothbrush. Avoid putting the baby to bed with a bottle and check teeth regularly for spots or stains.

What Are The Key Differences Between DHMO and DPPO?
One of the key differences between dental HMO insurance and dental PPO insurance is that DPPOs usually allow dentists to spend more time with insured patients. Dentists in dental HMO insurance plans are expected to see a certain number of patients, so some dentists have been known to rush through dental appointments. Additionally, participants in HMO dental insurance plans often complain about tiresome referral and claims procedures. Despite some of the restrictions and limitations associated with this type of dental insurance, HMO dental insurance plans are a feasible option for many people due to their low cost in relation to other dental insurance plans.
 
Dental Indemnity Insurance Plans
Dental indemnity insurance plans are fee-for-service insurance plans that require insured members to pay dentists directly for dental services rendered. People covered by dental indemnity insurance receive compensation from the insurance company by submitting claim forms. Dental indemnity insurance plan members often have to wait a long time to receive their reimbursement from the dental insurance carrier, and are expected to pay the difference if the dentist’s fee is greater than the reimbursement.
 
Employees and/or group members on a dental indemnity insurance plan can choose dentists, change dentists, and even see a dental specialist without a referral. Despite this freedom, many individuals, families and businesses shy away from dental indemnity insurance plans because of the costly premiums, high annual deductibles, and exhausting claims procedures. Typically, dental indemnity insurance plans are structured to insure groups, so they are usually not good options for individuals and families looking for dental insurance. But if you do need a plan with a higher-than-usual annual cap, some companies do sell indemnity plans to individuals.
 
Aflac has a Dental Indemnity Plan available which allows you to either have the dentist bill Aflac or the patient can pay cash to the dentist and submit a claim. Paying cash to the dentist it usually allows the patient to negotiate a lower price.

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If you want to discuss options about your dental insurance, we recommend speaking with an independent insurance agent like George Beach Insurance Services. We work for you the client, and not a particular big company.

California Dental Plans