The Benefits Of Paying Cash For Dental Care

Benefit # 1: You Avoid Insurance Hassles

Dental insurance can have all sorts of hassles to deal with, just for the money you get reimbursed for covered services. Not to mention, the cost of premiums could end up being the same amount if you just need bi-annual cleanings. Other hassles you could face include:

• You may have to have the insurance for a year before dental benefits apply
• The services covered vary from plan to plan, with some services not being covered or only partially being covered
• You can have a deductible you have to meet before services are covered
• You could have a co-pay that varies depending on the dental service
• You may be required to see a specific dentist considered “in-network”
• You might need pre-authorizations or a second opinion for certain services
• You have to dispute denials when you know the service is covered

As you can imagine, spending money on dental insurance can be very frustrating when dealing with these hassles. Furthermore, some dental insurance providers only reimburse “necessary” dental services, such as bi-annual cleanings and fillings. 

It is also not uncommon for certain plans to only cover one type of filling. For instance, you may want composite fillings, but your dental insurance only reimburses for amalgam fillings. Additionally, if you want to get an implant or straighten your teeth, they could say those are “unnecessary” services and not pay anything. 

Benefit # 2: You Can Get A Discount

Anytime you are looking for a dentist, get into the habit of asking, “Do dentists offer cash discounts?” Most dental offices are willing to offer a cash discount for their clients who pay in cash. They do this because they don’t have all the added overhead expenses associated with filing insurance claims. Additionally, they don’t have to deal with denials, trying to collect for non-covered services and other added costs.

Benefit # 3: You Avoid Credit Card Interest

Most dental offices do accept credit card payments for dental services. However, when you use a credit card, you will be charged interest until you pay the balance in full. Unless you have a special promotional interest-free offer, paying in cash avoids the added money you waste on credit card payments. 

Benefit # 4: Annual Cash Dental Subscriptions Save You Even More

At Absolute Dental, we offer our Smile Saver annual membership. This annual plan provides you access to discounted dental services for a low cost. For example, comprehensive exams and oral cancer screenings are free. Other services, such as cleanings, X-rays, and crowns, are discounted by up to 50%. Best of all, you never have to worry about:

• Hitting annual maximums like you do with dental insurance
• Having your claim denied because the service was “unnecessary”
• Being limited in your choice of fillings
• Not being able to get the dental services you want 

Benefit # 5: You Know The Costs Upfront

With dental insurance, there is not always a clear picture of your out-of-pocket costs. This is because certain services may not be fully covered or covered at all. While your dentist can estimate specific dental services, you may not know how much you have to pay until after the claim is processed. 

Sometimes, you have to wait to see what your insurance covers, then be stuck paying the difference later. Getting an unexpected bill from your dentist can impact your monthly budget. However, by paying cash upfront for dental care without insurance, you know exactly how much your dental services will cost and how much discount you will receive.  

Benefit # 6: You Can Plan And Budget Ahead

Another benefit of paying cash is having the flexibility to budget your dental costs and set aside money each month. If you put this money into a savings account, you earn interest, too. In cases where you want implants, braces, or other orthodontic services to correct imperfections, you can get an estimate from your dentist to know how much you need to set aside until you have the full amount.