Indemnity Dental Insurance - Essay Example

"Indemnity Dental Insurance" is an engrossing example of a paper on dental health. Indemnity dental insurance plan emerges as the most promising type of dental plan in promoting comprehensive dental care services to the majority of the employed adults not covered by the Medicare plan among other group or public health insurance covers. Despite the diminishing popularity of the indemnity dental insurance with the majority of people covered by the policy being the self-employed or employers without the group dental insurance, dental professionals recommend the plan as the best and most beneficial for the patients and the dentists. The plan operates on a fee-for-service basis, providing owners to access dental care whenever they need it without limitations (American Association of Endodontists, n.d). Patients covered by indemnity dental insurance have the liberty to choose a dentist or healthcare centers of their choice without any limitations. Patients are able to seek the best services according to the information they have by choosing a dentist of their own as well as a dental health center.

             Unlike other managed plans, indemnity insurance does not provide a list of preferred dental care providers as a way of controlling costs for their profitability and sustainability. Dental care professionals support this plan because it does not limit dental services that can be covered by the plan. In addition, indemnity insurance has shown better reliability in reimbursing dentists for the services provided to the clients compared to the group or public insurance plans (American Association of Endodontists, n.d). Since the plan operates on the basis of fee-for-service delivered, dental care practitioners, particularly in private practice, are able to claim their dues without delay or tedious processes. More, dental care professionals support this plan because of its relatively higher coverage rates compared to other private or state managed plans. I strongly support this plan because the purpose of any insurance should be to enable unlimited access to quality dental care to the purchaser of such plans.

The Pros and Cons of Indemnity Dental Insurance

            Indemnity dental insurance has been associated with significant advantages and disadvantages based on the terms and execution of the plan. The plan provides benefits and disadvantages for dentists, patients or owners and employers. For the person covered by the insurance plan, its terms offer the freedom of selecting dentists or service provider (American Association of Endodontists, n.d). The plan applies to all services sought by the client including specialized treatment, a phenomenon that guarantees the client access to quality dental care. Although under some special circumstances preauthorization may be demanded, in most cases the plan does not require any referrals as in the case of managed plans. The patient, employee or client benefits from the relatively higher coverage rates which enable them to access quality care as well as specialized treatments. For dental services recognized as regular or customary, the plan covers costs ranging from 50 to 100 percent of total costs (American Association of Endodontists, n.d). Dental care professionals benefit from the high coverage rates and reliable reimbursement arrangements associated with the indemnity dental insurance plan.

            Despite all the benefits associated with the plan, individuals covered by this plan may face some disadvantages to inform of inconveniences in which the plan becomes applicable after the yearly deductibles reach a certain limit. The plan also provides a yearly cap for services that can be covered in a year meaning that any costs above the upper limit may have to be settled by the beneficiary (American Association of Endodontists, n.d). The plan also entails a waiting period after which an individual can use the plan to seek dental care services. In this case, clients in need of urgent dental care may face significant inconveniences or limitations in enjoying the plan’s benefits.