Should I sign up for Dentalplan.com discount plan?

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#1 Post by **VistaXP** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 10:48 am

I've just found out that one of the Ortho that I'm interested in, is participating in the OrthoCare discount plan. Is this beneficial in terms of cost long term?

I have 18-24 months of treatment, individual plan cost 79.95 so in total this will all cost me $159.90 for two years. Could I cancel my account after 2 years and not get a cancel fee?

Can someone who had this discount plan tell me their experience with this program and how much money they saved?

One more question please, is this like insurance? Where the Ortho get paid by insurance? Or does the discount come off of the Ortho own pocket?

One thing I worry, is that if I save too much off my Ortho, they might provide cheaper service.

Thanks to pdbprodigy1 for showing me this.

#2 Post by **ngbraces** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 6:22 pm

I have 18-24 months of treatment, individual plan cost 79.95 so in total this will all cost me $159.90 for two years.

I'm not familiar with the plan, but I think it doesn't mean that it will cost you $159.90 only. I look at their website, it doesn't say members will get "free" braces. They estimate with their in-network orthos, at $5150 average for braces, their members get discount 20%, that means you would pay $4120, plus $159.90 membership fee. You would end up around $4280. Be careful. Do more research and read the fine prints.

#3 Post by **HIMgurl** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 7:41 pm

Before signing up to any plan, check with your ortho to make sure they accept the plan. There were several plans that showed my ortho accepting them when in fact he does not. Be careful! A discount plan is not insurance. In a nut shell, a discount plan gets you ortho care at a discount price. The orthos in the preferred plans agree to give the service at a discount price depending on the terms of the plan. I've seen some give 20 to 60% or save around $2000. And prices of these plans range from $6.95 to $179.99. Oh and I've read on many sites that you have to pay the discounted fee up front.

I have not used a discount plan before but I was looking into it. It would be best to call the plan's customer service to get answers for contract length etc.

As far as getting cheaper service, I don't think that you would. Every ortho has a reputation to up hold. And I just can't see dodgy work going with a discounted price. That would look bad for the ortho and his practice. Word of mouth is a very powerful thing. If I heard that an ortho offered a discount rate but gave dodgy work, I'd stay away and tell everyone needing braces!

Don't sign up for anything without checking with you ortho's office. Just because the office is listed on the site does not mean that they offer discounts!

I have been looking into discount plans for a month and still have not found one. I've been to lots of sites. And honestly its hard to tell which plans are better than the others. And you may end up spending more money than you save. Good luck!

#4 Post by **bbsadmin** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 10:26 am

The dental discount plans are just that -- discount plans. They are not insurance. The dental offices and dentists that sign up for them agree to charge certain rates or certain procedures. In return, the company that runs the plan lists them in their directory and provides marketing materials for them. I'm not sure if any reimbursements are involved.

The plans can be pretty good deals IF you do your research first. Make sure that you like the orthodontist who will do your work, and that you agree with his treatment opinion at your free consultation (it should be free, btw).

Also, many plans require that you do not have orthodontic treatment that is already in progress. So if you already have braces, check carefully to ensure that continuation of your treatment with an orthodontist on their plan is covered by the discount.

I think that companies like DentalPlans.com can really help people, which is why they are an advertiser on some of ArchWired.com's main pages. Just be sure to read all the information and do your homework before you make any decisions.

#5 Post by **VistaXP** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 10:37 am

Thanks!

Just to let you guys know, I found 25% off coupons and they are indeed working.

SHAPE2 25% off (working)
geico25 25% off (working)

MCMYCOUP20 20% off (working)

ultimate 15% off (working)

CC10 10% off (working)
COUPONCABIN 10% off (working)

#6 Post by **HIMgurl** » Sun Dec 23, 2007 4:56 pm

Awesome! I wish the ortho I'm going to accepted those. I never thought to look at geico.

#7 Post by **VistaXP** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 11:47 am

Quick! Just got off email from dentalplans.com representative and gave me a coupon for 35% off only for end of the year.

Coupon code: santa

However, I found later that my Ortho doesn't participate, so call first.

#8 Post by **pdbprodigy1** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 7:19 pm

Vista,

No problem! Yes I am using the ortho care discount plan and I was fortunate in that my ortho does partcipate in the dental plan. My total ortho costs have been reduced by 20% which is awesome because at the end of the process I would have saved about 1 grand.

P.

#9 Post by **NotBob1** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 8:30 pm

This is just my two cents.... If the ortho is participating in a discount plan or is willing to "wheel & deal" then this is likely not the ortho you are looking for. (I think....)

Lynn is very correct in what she says about doing research first. Pick a half of a dozen orthos you would consider using and THEN look to see who's taking what plan/coupon/discount/club, etc.

The bottom line is always this: You get what you pay for.

I chose my ortho based on the fact that she did not participate in very many dental plans and she did not discount her service, ever. She does not need to do discounts, she is excellent at what she does and charges for it. She has people waiting quite a while just to get a consult. The fact is, she only charged about 10% more than the other orthos I looked into, but I got so much more!

Think about it for a moment, would you like to spend $6,000.00 to get marginal service and possibly a marginal outcome or $6,800.00 to get the best service and an awesome outcome? If you choose the discount guy/gal, you may be disappointed in the end and wish you had forked out just a little more...

There's my take on it. It's just an opinion and it is worth what you just paid for it!!!

---I suppose I should change my ticker below as my braces are off now!!??