Consumers Are Advised to Be Aware of Hidden Costs in Some Discount Dental Plans
SAN DIEGO, Calif., May 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Not all discount dental plans are created equal, according to Dr. Michael Grossman, President and CEO at First Dental Health. Unexpected fees totaling hundreds of dollars are common and can take consumers by surprise. In addition, some discount dental plan specialists' fee discounts are very limited and difficult to verify, and not all plans are licensed in the states where they operate.
Unknown lab fees, for services such as crowns, are an additional, unadvertised charge in many discount dental plans. These fees, which can vary widely, typically come as a big and unwelcome surprise. New Dental Choice is one of the few discount dental plans that includes lab fees in the cost of its discounted fees. Consumers can look up the fees charged by the New Dental Choice network providers for specific procedures in advance, either online or by visiting a network dentist – and know the total cost of the service – with no surprises.
"In addition to charging extra for lab fees, other discount dental plans offer discounts off of specialist fees instead of pre-negotiated fixed discounts." says Dr. Michael Grossman. "Offering a percentage off of the specialists' fees doesn't tell consumers in advance what their charges are. And since every specialist's discount is different, it's difficult to determine whether members really are saving money."
New Dental Choice specialists fees are fixed, so consumers know in advance how much a procedure costs – and how much money they will save. "They also have the assurance that there won't be any lab fees tacked on to the total bill," says Dr. Grossman.
State licensing is another important area where consumers may be confused about discount dental plans. Licensing ensures that dentists and specialists in a network are credentialed; dental savings are real and enforceable, and advertising is verified for accuracy. As state licensing requirements have increased in recent years not all plans have complied. New Dental Choice is one of the only discount dental plans licensed in the State of California. In fact, First Dental Health, the parent company of New Dental Choice, is licensed in every state where its plan operates.
About New Dental Choice: Designed by practicing dentists, New Dental Choice discount dental plans offer pre-negotiated discounts of between 15 and 60 percent on all common dental procedures – all the time. New Dental Choice dental plan memberships are an affordable alternative to costly dental insurance plans. Unlike dental insurance, New Dental Choice dental plans are activated immediately, have no treatment restrictions, and no annual maximum benefit.
For more information, contact Katelynn Sarcione, Marketing Communications Manager, www.newdentalchoice.com (858) 444-2604.
SOURCE First Dental Health
