Dental Insurance Options for Small Business Owners
Providing dental insurance for small business owners can help you reduce costs, improve employee retention, and ensure access to quality care. With AWA, you can choose between a nationwide PPO style plan or a fixed indemnity option with cash benefits paid directly for you.
Fully-insured benefits cover basics like dental exams, cleanings, and treatment, as well as more advanced dental issues such as endodontics, periodontics, crowns, oral surgery, bridges, dentures, and orthodontics.
Dental indemnity benefits are also available and provide coverage for preventative care such as cleanings, x-rays, and covered procedures like fillings and extractions.
Insured dental benefits are underwritten by United Concordia, an A-rated carrier with a solid national network of providers. Fixed Indemnity Dental benefits are underwritten by Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company, an A++ rated insurance carrier.
AWA Memberships with Dental Insurance for Small Business Owners
AWA offers access to dental insurance plans designed for small business owners, giving you the flexibility to choose between comprehensive PPO coverage and predictable fixed indemnity benefits. Both memberships are built to provide value, affordability, and peace of mind.
AWA Dental Plus (Fully Insured)
With prescription savings through the ScriptSave Rx Prescription Savings Card and an additional Vision Savings Program from Davis Vision, small business members find real value in AWA Dental Plus.
AWA Dental (Fixed Indemnity)
Small Business members know exactly what the plan pays before they go to the dentist with AWA Dental memberships. With access to one of the largest Dental PPO Networks in the country, members get discounted pricing.
Answers to Common Questions About Dental Benefits
It is normal to have questions about dental benefits and which ones are best for you. One of the ways AWA provides value to our members is by providing two plans that offer very different coverage levels, which allows each member to find something that works for their family.
We are also available to answer your questions and help you find the right plan for your needs. Below you will find answers to some of the most common questions about dental benefits.
It depends on the health plan. However, you should never assume that your health care plan includes dental benefits. In most cases, dental benefits are not included directly with the health plan, but a person’s health plan might be bundled with dental coverage.
The HealthCare.gov site offers a good overview of dental coverage available in the marketplace and various categories of dental coverage.
A person who does not have any dental issues might assume that it’s cheaper to pay for an exam once or twice a year than to pay monthly premiums for dental benefits. There are two things to consider if this is your plan.
First, dental plans are likely less expensive than you’re imagining. In almost every dental plan on the market, two dental exams and cleanings are covered with a minimum co-pay. For most people, the cost of their yearly coverage will essentially be paid for by receiving these cleanings for a very low charge.
Second, just because you have healthy teeth and gums today does not mean you will forever. In fact, as a person ages, their chance of developing serious – and expensive – dental issues increase. You can prevent paying thousands out of pocket for injury or disease to your teeth and gums by having full dental coverage.
It’s also important to note that many dental plans have what’s known as a probationary period. This is essentially a period after you have started paying for benefits before covering any major work such as crowns or root canals. This is to prevent people from waiting to get coverage until they need significant work.
Waiting periods vary by plan (and not all plans have one) but can be up to a year after coverage begins.
Full dental benefits cover:
- Preventative care
- Basic care
- Major restorative care
In some cases, they also cover orthodontic treatment.
Note that full dental benefits mean that you have coverage for most dental issues. It does not mean that your dental benefit will cover 100% of costs. You should always read your plan to learn about co-pays, non-covered procedures, and annual maximums.
Dental care is vital for the health of your teeth and gums, but many people don’t realize that your oral health can affect your overall health, too.
Remember that your mouth is the entry point to your digestive and respiratory tracts. As is true of other parts of your body, your mouth is full of bacteria. Most of it is harmless, but some of it can cause disease.
When you brush and floss daily, you will have a good chance of keeping the bacteria in your mouth under control. However, if you are not vigilant, bacteria can cause oral infections, including tooth decay and gum disease.
Even if your brush and floss regularly, some medications can reduce saliva. This is a problem because saliva is the body’s natural mouth cleaner, and it serves to wash away food and neutralize the acid in your mouth. Medications that can reduce saliva include:
- Decongestants
- Antihistamines
- Painkillers
- Diuretics
- Antidepressants
If oral health issues are left without treatment, a person can develop a severe form of gum disease known as periodontitis. Studies have shown that oral inflammation and bacteria associated with periodontitis can cause or contribute to medical conditions such as:
- Diabetes
- HIV/AIDS
- Endocarditis (infection of the inner lining of the heart)
- Cardiovascular disease
- Complications during pregnancy
- Low birth weight
- Premature birth
- Pneumonia
In other instances, medical conditions have been shown to increase the chance of disease to the mouth and gums. Osteoporosis leads to weakening bones, including tooth loss and jawbones. As Alzheimer’s progresses, it begins to correlate with a decrease in oral health.
Getting regular dental care, including exams and cleanings, is the best way to ensure that your oral health is not affecting your overall health and longevity.
AWA offers options in dental benefits to ensure our members can find an affordable plan and meet their unique needs. We have group buying power that helps keep our rates competitive, and the additional resources that come with dental coverage provide significant added value.
Everything we do at AWA revolves around our core idea: empowerment. We want all of our members to have the coverage and resources needed to build their company. Offering dental benefits is just one way we are working to achieve that goal every day.
