Should You Choose A Dental PPO?

If you're looking for flexibility in your dental care — but don't want to empty your bank account paying premiums — consider a PPO plan.

PPO plans are the most popular plans in the country. They give you more choice about your care than other kinds of managed care. But they don't cost as much as traditional indemnity dental insurance.

PPO — Managed Care With Flexibility

Like other kinds of managed care, Preferred Provider Organizations have “networks” of dental professionals. The network of dentists, orthodontists, and other care providers agree to accept reduced fees from the PPO plan. In return, the providers get more business. The PPO plan pays out less money in claims, and plan members pay less in premiums.

But unlike other managed care plans, PPO plans still cover you when you see a dentist outside the plan network. You’ll save more money by staying within the network. But you don't need to get referrals or wait for plan approvals to go seek treatment. This flexibility is a big part of why PPO plans are so popular.

The Advantages Of PPO Insurance Plans

• Affordability — PPO plans limit the amount you're responsible for paying out of your own pocket
• Flexible — You can see any specialist you'd like for treatment, without needing a referral
• Convenient networks — most PPO plans have large networks of dentists, so saving money by staying “in-network” is easy

Is The Tradeoff Worth It For You?

PPO plans are flexible, but the premiums might be more than you'd like to pay. If that's the case, consider a dental HMO plan. An HMO plan isn't as flexible as a PPO — you have to get care “in-network” to receive coverage.

But dental HMO plans have the advantage of lower premiums. And usually, they don't have a deductible. That can be good news if you unexpectedly need expensive care.

Not sure which plan is best? Use our free dental insurance quote service to get connected to dental insurance agents who can help.