Teeth Whitening Benefits in Individual Dental Insurance Plans

During the pandemic, many employees spent hours seeing coworkers smiles during online discussions. However, many people don’t often smile because they don’t like the appearance of their teeth. One way they can improve their smiles is with teeth whitening and dental benefits to help cover the cost.

Many dental insurance plans do not cover cosmetic teeth whitening (also known as bleaching). However, it’s one of the popular features included in individual dental coverage provided by Ameritas. Here’s what you should know.

Dental benefits for retirees

Older workers tend to have more dental problems as they age. That’s one of the reasons why senior employees want dental insurance. Most have been faithfully taking care of their teeth, brushing and flossing daily. And they want to keep their natural teeth.

Many older workers have always scheduled regular dental checkups and professional cleanings. As they age, seniors know their oral health may change. They may need fillings, crowns, root canals or bridges. The costs for these procedures can add up, so they want dental insurance to help cover the costs.

During a dental exam, your dentist also may detect signs of medical conditions. This includes hypertension, diabetes, dementia, osteoporosis and some cancers. Catching health concerns early can help avoid pain and costly treatments, keeping you healthier.

With an individual dental plan, seniors have instant access to their benefits. They will not need to put off dental needs until they have saved up enough money to afford the total cost.

In addition, Ameritas offers individual dental plan coverage with options for:

1. child orthodontia benefit to help pay for braces
2. vision benefit for an annual eye exam and glasses or contacts
3. LASIK vision correction benefit so you can ditch your glasses or contacts
4. hearing exam benefit to diagnose and identify treatment options

Cosmetic dental benefits

Employees may want cosmetic dental procedures to improve their smiles. Teeth whitening is a popular procedure to brighten enamel and remove discoloration. Other cosmetic procedures include implants, veneers, crowns, orthodontia, tooth bonding or enamel shaping. Some dentists have special software to show you how cosmetic changes would impact your appearance.

Preventive dental care

In addition to daily tooth brushing and flossing, preventive dental appointments are essential to keeping your teeth and gums healthy. Individual plans typically cover all or most of the cost of preventive checkups and exams. This includes professional cleanings and exams, as well as bitewing X-rays once or twice a year. Employees with individual dental plans get immediate coverage for these services. Most insurance companies do not have a waiting period for preventive services, including exams and cleanings. If there is a waiting period, it’s usually for more costly procedures such as crowns, root canals or bridges.

Many insurance companies offer individual dental insurance that can be purchased online. However, it’s best to look for a reputable dental carrier known for the quality of its customer service, efficient claims processing and excellent communication.

Value of insurance benefits

Benefit choices rank high as a priority for employees. They value their health benefits because of the security this coverage provides, especially for unexpected medical expenses.

However, plan choices especially are important to employees when it comes to dental insurance. It’s because employees tend to use their dental plans more often than other health benefits. Plus, a dentist can learn a lot about your overall health during an oral exam and let you know if there’s anything that may need medical attention.

Employers can provide Ameritas group dental insurance to workers in their annual benefits package. But the problem is that some employees, such as part-time, contractors or semi-retired, may not qualify for group benefits. So employers will want to consider giving these employees access to Ameritas individual dental insurance coverage, simply by providing this link: https://myplan.ameritas.com. Anyone can purchase and pay online for the individual dental plan of their choice (for individuals and families).