While a small part of the market (less than 10 percent), HMO dental plans are some of the least expensive insurance options. In this article, you'll learn how dental HMO plans:
Charge less than PPO and indemnity plans
Manage the services an enrollee receives from a dentist
Lack an annual limit on care
Limit dentist choice
At the conclusion of the article, there is a link so you can explore dental HMO plans available in your region.
Questions answered and ready to buy?
Why Are Dental HMOs So Inexpensive?
HMO dental insurance is often less costly than PPO dental plans and indemnity dental plans. The foundation of their lower prices rests in the way the plan is structured. A HMO dental plan (otherwise known as a DHMO) is a health maintenance organization. A health maintenance organization is a type of "managed care" where a primary medical professional (in this case, a dentist) is chosen by the enrollee, and this professional makes decisions on what care is advisable and whether a referral to another dentist is warranted. Just as important as this method of managing care is the network of dental professionals associated with the HMO. Fewer dental providers are used, giving these providers a greater share of the patients belonging to the HMO. Patients are strongly incentivized to receive dental care from in-network providers because out-of-network providers are normally not covered. The HMO's model of care produces both low premiums and out-of-pocket costs. Unlike PPO and indemnity dental plans, HMO out-of-pocket costs are often flat-fee copayments (as opposed to coinsurance fees based on a percentage of the total service cost).
Below are examples of how inexpensive HMO coverage can be. Your prices will depend on the cost of dental care in your region, whether you choose single or family coverage, etc.
Very affordable plans and a wide range to choose from to fit your budget...
Belle Chase, LA
Thank you for a pleasant experience
I got signed up for Dental Insurance and your Representative made it very easy...
Grantville, GA
Enrollment Considerations
A choice in dental insurance typically involves trade-offs. For HMOs, the most common trade-off is the restriction of a narrow dentist network versus the very low costs of care. Another trade-off concerns referrals. A referral to a specialty dentist must be made by the enrollee's primary care dentist or the HMO plan will not pay for the specialty service. If the primary care dentist does not believe the speciality dentist is necessary for the enrollee, a referral will not be provided. If a shopper considering a HMO plan knows he or she will need to have a special type of dental work performed, it is wise to review how many dental specialists participate in the plan's network.
One of the overlooked advantages of HMO plans is the common absence of waiting periods. If you need dental care quickly and enroll in a HMO plan, you are less likely to face coverage delays of 3-months, 6-months, or a year. In PPO and indemnity plans, waiting periods are much more prevalent.
A final consideration is emergency care. Before enrolling, find the plan's policy regarding emergency care needed during travel when the enrollee is outside the plan's network. This can be a major concern for people who frequently travel for business.
HMO Dental Basics: Challenges and Strengths
Some strengths and challenges of HMO dental plans include the following:
HMO Challenges:
You must choose an in-network provider as your primary care dentist
Your favorite dentist may not be in-network
A higher ratio of patients to dentists may result in longer waits before an appointment is available
The plan will not pay for out-of-network care
Like all dental insurance, HMO plans do not pay for treatments that are not specifically covered in the plan's Summary of Benefits
Referrals are at the discretion of the enrollee's primary care dentist
HMO Strengths:
Lower premiums and out-of-pocket costs
No waiting periods before covered services are available to the enrollee
HMOs are good for those who need work done in the next month but who can't wait for another plan's waiting period to be met
Dentists are incentivized to improve the oral health of their patients
Flat-fee copayments easier than coinsurance for understanding the cost of prescribed care
No “maximum benefit” to limit how much the insurance plan can spend on an enrollee during a year
Need some help choosing a dental plan?
Our agents can:
Answer your questions
Confirm if your dentist is in-network
Enroll you over the phone
800-296-3800
HMO Dental Insurance in Your Area
Interested to see if DentalInsurance.com has any HMO options available in your region? Just visit our page for dental insurance quotes. As mentioned earlier, HMO plans comprise less than 10 percent of dental insurance market so you are not guaranteed to find a local HMO plan.
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Our knowledgeable customer service team will assist you with any questions you may have
prior to enrolling in a dental plan. They can guide you through the process of choosing
coverage that matches your needs as well as your budget.