Like health insurance plans, dental insurance plans are usually categorized as either HMO or PPO. The major differences generally concern choice of dental care providers, out-of-pocket costs and how bills are paid. Typically, PPO plans offer a broader selection of dental care providers than HMO plans and don't require a primary physician. PPO plans pay their share of costs for covered services only after they receive a bill (which means that you may have to pay up front and then obtain reimbursement from your insurance company through claim documents).
HMO plans also typically maintain dental provider networks. Dentists participating in a network agree to perform services for patients at pre-negotiated rates and usually will submit the claim to the dental insurance company for you. In general, you'll have less paperwork and lower out-of-pocket costs with HMO dental plans and broader choice of dentists with a PPO plan. |
