Paying for dental care causes anxiety to many. Not everybody has enough money to pay for dental insurance and not all employers offer dental benefits. Below is the continuation of our previous discussion on how to pay for dental treatment.
How to Pay for Dental Treatment – Part 1
Discount Plans
A dental discount plan functions a lot like a membership at a warehouse store. You pay an annual fee and obtain access to significantly reduced rates. Dental discount plans present many benefits over traditional dental insurance. Unlike insurance, they have no annual caps or limits and there is no need for any paperwork.
For an annual membership fee, you can get a discount plan that would allow you to secure significant discounts on dental costs, provided that you avail of dentists, who agree to take these plans.
Dental Financing
Dental financing may involve the use of a credit card. Make certain that you know what the monthly payment obligations will be before you take this option. Financing can either be low interest or no interest.
Low interest payment plans are, in general, longer term, usually up to five years. Payments are split into equal monthly payments and must be paid off every month. Interest charges would be placed on your account starting on the initial purchase date.
No interest payment plans are more frequently obtainable through healthcare credit cards. Unlike low interest plans, they would only grant you a short time period to pay your balance, commonly six to eighteen months. With these arrangements, you should pay at least the monthly minimum and pay off the balance on time. If you cannot meet these requirements, you will incur interest charges.
Direct Arrangements
If you are paying for your dental services on your own, don’t ignore the prospect of making some sort of financial arrangement directly with your dentist. Doing so can be advantageous for both of you.
This may include a cash discount, prioritizing your dental work so your expenditures are deferred or spread out for as long as possible, and setting up a payment scheme.
You may ask your dentist if they give a discount if dental work is paid in full in advance.
Your proposal may be turned down. Nonetheless, besides the obvious value this plan has for you, it can provide a number of advantages for your dentist, too; thus, there is no harm in asking.
A number of dentists may consider making a relatively confidential payment plan option open to some patients. But, you can expect that this type of deal would only be offered to patients with whom they have had an established relationship and whose payment history has presented credit worthiness.
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