Can I use a dental discount plan in conjunction with a dental PPO
Question: My husband dental insurance is a dental PPO with a $1000.00 maxim limitation. However, I am currently in need of a root canal and a crown. The root canal specialist is going to charge me over a thousand dollars and that is just to have the root canal done.
I am wondering if I can use a dental discount plan to get the discount saving and reduce my total cost to our insurance company. I know I will still more then like go over my maxim limitation but I think the additional saving would be worth getting the plan.
Answer: Trying to use a discount plan and your current insurance plan together for the same dental services may not work. The dentist that you are going is reducing his or her cost to you as a plan member. The dentist may not be willing to do both buy reducing their cost and still bill off your insurance carrier.
Another thing you may want to keep in mind. With a dental discount plan you have to go to plan dentist. For any Specialist your average saving is around 20%. It is not normally an issue if you use the plan for services your current plan will not cover or if you use it when you max out your limit with your current insurance plan. Just be careful of cross coverage issues.
Make sure to call around in the the discount plan network of providers to make sure the dentist is willing to do what you are wanting before just buying a dental discount plan.
