Tiffany Raiford
With open enrollment upon us, many Americans are thinking about their current healthcare situation. They’re asking themselves whether or not they have insurance if they want to get it or pay the fine for not having insurance. They’re wondering why so many plans are no longer affordable – when they once were – despite the fact that this whole concept is called the “Affordable Healthcare Act,” and they’re wondering what they can get away with not choosing as part of their coverage to lower the admittedly ridiculous rates self-employed people, individuals and small businesses are now forced to pay for insurance coverage.
Dental insurance is one of the features that many Americans are questioning. Do you really need dental insurance? It is worth paying for? It is worth the risk of not having dental insurance if a dental emergency were to arise? There are a lot of questions being asked by Americans right now, and we can’t make that decision on your behalf. However, we can give you a few reasons why dental insurance is something you should consider adding onto your healthcare coverage, even if you don’t think it’s necessary.
Dental Care is Not Cheap
Let’s just get straight down to business. Dental care is expensive. Without dental benefits, you’re looking at a minimum of hundreds of dollars for juts a simple cleaning. If you have something more serious to contend with, such as the need for root canal or even a cap, you’re looking at more like $1000 or more. And it just gets higher the more work you need. You can add anesthesia to that, among other things. Have a cavity and need a filling? You’re looking at another couple hundred dollars. It’s not cheap to have issues with your teeth, and it’s a lot more affordable to simply pay the dental benefits fee each month than it is to have an emergency with your teeth. And even if they’re healthy now, you just never know what might happen.
It’s Inexpensive
Unlike health insurance, dental insurance is not that expensive. In fact, it’s downright cheap when you really think about it. You can get family dental benefits plans for a monthly price that’s less expensive than taking the entire family out to eat. It’s really affordable, especially when you add it onto your health insurance coverage. You might be able to get insurance for your teeth as low as a few dollars a month. It’s so much more affordable to pay for dental benefits each month and never use them than it is to pay for even one dental emergency that you didn’t see coming without the help of insurance.
It’s Good for Your Health
Let’s face it; your health is important. Perhaps you assume that as long as you keep your teeth brushed and you don’t damage them that they are healthy. You could be right, but you could also be wrong. Your teeth are nothing to mess around with, as your oral health is so important when it comes to other aspects of your health. Did you know that you oral health is completely related to other aspects of your health and body?
Did you know that there are several major health problems that have been linked to poor oral health that could have been noticed and treated by a dentist much sooner? Imagine going to the doctor and being diagnosed with cardiovascular issues because you suffered from an infection that was caused by oral bacteria. That would be a pretty difficult pill to swallow, if you’re honest. Additionally, it can also be said that poor oral health can be linked to heart disease, stroke, endocarditis and many other issues that negatively affect your health.
Women with periodontitis tend to give birth to preterm babies with low birth weight. There are far too many health issues you could easily avoid in your lifetime simply by spending time at the dental office on a regular basis.
It’s a Good Example
Your children are far more likely to have good oral health if you have dental insurance. If your kids see you going to the dentist for regular check-ups, and they also go to the dentist for regular check-ups, they’re more likely to have good oral health for the duration of their lives. The frequent reminder to brush well and floss daily is never a bad thing for kids.
Additionally, your kids are more likely to take note of their own health care and oral health if you have dental insurance and spend time at the dentist. They will grow up understanding the importance of health care and dental care, schedule their own appointments and even schedule their own children time at the dentist. It’s a pretty win-win situation when you look at it from that point of view.
It’s Responsible
If you’re considering what’s more financially responsible, it’s choosing to pay for dental benefits. It’s not called insurance when speaking of dental care, because it’s not insurance. However, it’s a wise decision. Your health should always be a priority, even if you’re on a tight budget. That budget can become even tighter if you choose to forgo the basics, and health care is one of those basics.
Additionally, it’s irresponsible not to take care of your oral health now that you know how many other aspects of your health your dental care can affect. You don’t want to look back on your life and realize that a few trips to the dentist each year and a few dollars a month could have prevented serious health problems in your family whether it be you or your children or your spouse. The responsible thing to do is ask for dental benefits with your health insurance coverage; and to actually use them. Most plans offer free cleanings twice a year. Use those to your advantage, and to the advantage of your children. Your future health is dependent on how well you care for yourself now. It’s not something you can put off doing; so just do it.
Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images
Comments
Loading…