Dental PPO or HMO: Which is Right for You?

What is dental insurance?

Dental insurance helps you pay for dental work, like examinations, teeth cleanings, X-rays, and costly procedures such as crowns, fillings, and root canals. It works like health insurance, but dental insurance follows a 100-80-50 coverage structure for in-network dentists.

Enrolling in dental insurance can help you keep your smile longer because it offers preventative services that reduce the risk of poor oral health. Simply put, dental plans make dental care affordable and help you become healthier.

However, not understanding the right dental insurance for you can mean the difference between staying healthy and putting off oral care. That’s why we’re looking at the two most common dental plans, PPO and HMO, exploring their differences, and providing information to help you find coverage that works for you.

Dental PPO vs. HMO

To compare a dental PPO plan to a dental HMO plan, you need to know these key differences.

Although both plans cover preventive, basic, and restorative services, there’s a difference in cost and flexibility. If you want a dental HMO, you need to see a dentist in-network, while a dental PPO can give you a broader choice. Check out their pros and cons below, which will give you more information about both types of plans.

Choosing the Right Plan for You

When selecting a dental plan, it all boils down to individual needs and preferences, the importance of regular dental care, network restrictions, and cost savings.

Try answering the following guide questions to reach your decision:

• How much can you afford to pay every month?
• What are your potential copayment and coinsurance costs?
• Do you need to worry about waiting periods?
• Do you wish to keep your current dentist?
• How many HMO-participating dentists are available in your area?
• How many specialists are available?

For instance, if you have a large family and may need more flexibility in selecting dentists for each member, try a dental PPO plan. If cost-saving is a priority, an HMO plan may meet your dental needs.

Remember, oral care is an integral part of overall health. Dental plans help you protect your smile without huge out-of-pocket expenses. With Synapse Dental Billing, we take a bigger step in helping dental providers deliver the best dental care.

Your Dental Practice Needs Care Too: The Right Billing Choice

As patients enroll in their preferred insurance plans, dental clinics have the vital role of ensuring smooth transactions. However, due to the highly complex billing process, administrative errors, and staff burnout, claims get denied, which leads to low patient satisfaction and revenue loss.

Let professional dental coders and billers like Synapse experts build a solid connection with insurers, always up-to-date with changes in insurance policies and payments.

We don’t just seamlessly integrate our highly sought-after billing software and systems – we bring accuracy and efficiency to every work we do, so you can just focus on what truly matters: building an orally healthy America.

Discover how we help thousands of dentists and their patients – book a demo today!