"How DENTAL-INSURANCE-PLANS Became The Abused Step-Child Of Health Care"... And How You Can Avoid Being Abused By Dental Plans
The Evolution Of Dental-Insurance-Plans
A quick look at the evolution of health insurance in America leads us up to... the development and growth of dental-insurance-plans in this country.
In 1929 - Dallas Tx teachers were the first Americans to have a health plan established for them... a group health insurance plan.
In 1941 - New York, NY - Years later, members of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union followed the Texas teachers with... the first sick benefit clause in a labor contract.
In 1942, Rhode Island was the first state to enact a workers compensation law - several states quickly followed.
From Mid 40's To Early 70's...
....the national (American) "goal" was to provide quality medical care to all.
In the 60's and early 70's congress debated many bills that would have provided national health insurance for all... well, we know the outcome of those debates.
I wonder how similar are today's hotly debated health care issues with those of yesterday?
First Dental-Insurance-Plan Comes Into Existence...
During the 60's while congress was doing all this debating...
...Delta Dental (1964), began making much needed and overlooked dental insurance or dental care coverage available to the general American Public. Delta was the first company to offer a "dental specific insurance plan".
Before then, there was no stand alone dental-insurance-plans in the USA.
A few health insurance plans did offer some form of dental coverage, but most offered No dental coverage at all - enrollees or consumers were responsible for their own oral care needs.
46 Years Later - 2010
And now I would like to turn over our discussion about the history of health and dental-insurance-plans to our distinguished guest, dentist: Robert P. McBride, D.D.S., M.A.G.D.
"Dental Insurance Misnomer" -- by Dr. McBride
"Dental insurance had its beginning in the early 1970's. It appeared indemnity (insurance) would encourage those patients who needed or wanted dental treatment to have these services performed.
Some dentists began to warn those in leadership positions... within our profession... of the possible perils to quality care that might occur..."
"...If Dental Insurance Companies Began To Determine..."
"...diagnosis... treatment... and dental fees... for a particular service. In retrospect these warnings were lightly heeded by many dentists.
Could the insurance industry exert that much control over the dental profession?"
"Dental Insurance Plans As They Are Now"
"Like so many encroachments we experience in life, the dental insurance industry was not satisfied with its influence on treatment plans and fee determinations...
...eventually, a larger "piece of the pie" was requested by the dental insurance industry in the form of managed care."
"Managed Care is where dentists... who enlist... agree to reduce their fees by as much as 20% to have patients placed in their chairs... managed cost - NOT managed care.
"Benefits Have Not Changed In Over 30 Years"
Dental insurance benefits or maximums have not changed within the past 30 years... their profit level is dependent upon the dentists Not adjusting their fees according to normal inflationary processes.
"The Word INSURANCE Is Defined As..."
"...'protection against a loss'... this term has been used in medicine, as catastrophic loss can occur as a result of sickness or accident.
The term 'insurance' has been used in dentistry, but it's a misnomer.
'Benefit' more aptly describes the allowance which is negotiated for an employee between his/her place of employment and insurance company".
Dental Insurance Companies Benefit Allowances
"All dental insurance companies have a table of benefit allowances which rarely exceeds $1500 per calendar year. This allowable amount is very close to the benefit amount of the 1970's."
"If dental benefits were to have kept up with inflation... such as they have with true insurance... they would amount to over $10,000 per year."
Thank you Dr. McBride... for sharing that background info. His contact info and website link are as follows:
Dentist - Robert P. McBride, D.D.S., M.A.G.D. 5406 Village Road, Long Beach, CA. 90808 -- phone: (562) 421.3747 -- www.rpmdentistry.com
"Discount Plans vs Dental-Insurance-Plans"
Because of the many reasons Dr. McBride has outlined... plus several more equally impressive reasons I've uncovered on my own over the past few years...
...I've chosen a "dental discount plan" as my preferred mode of dental coverage.
Here's what I've discovered...
Contrary To What Most People Think
Dental-discount-plans are the climax... on the evolutionary wheel of development and advancement of dental-insurance-plans.
Meaning...
Discount plans are actually a refinement of traditional dental-insurance-plans - an advanced form of coverage - more consumer driven (consumer responsive) than traditional dental insurance plans.
If you've never heard these things about dental discount plans before... it's probably because...
Dental Discount Plans Are One Of America's...
..."Best Kept Secrets"
Here's a couple more reasons why "discount plans" are considered a "well kept secret"
First... they have NO annual maximum benefit amount, meaning - you never have to worry about a being turned down or denied benefits for on-going treatment... including new or additional treatment.
Secondly... you'll especially like the fact that there's NEVER a deductible for you to worry about... that's right... discount plans have absolutely NO DEDUCTIBLE.
The Recommended Dental Plan Offers...
...all the unique benefits of dental discount plans I mention above and then some.
Yes, the recommend dental-plan offers you even more benefits. For example, they offer you a substantial discount on dental implants. I know this for sure...
....because I got a tremendous discount on an implant I personally received with the recommended dental plan.
How many people can boast that their dental-insurance-plan has helped them with dental implants... or any other type of major cosmetic dental work?
More Advantages Of Recommended Dental Plan...
Without hesitation, I can also tell you this... like all discount dental plans.
I hope this article on the evolution and current practices of dental-insurance-plans has not only given you a brief but informative history of dental care.
I hope this article has provided you with some helpful guidance on how to wisely choose your dental coverage, and...
*Thanks for Visiting*
Broker-Moe...
"...brings you insiders savings tips on Dental Care!"
dental-discount-plans-guide.com
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