5 Ways to Secure Dental Coverage if Youre Unemployed – Dental Express

Being between jobs can be stressful. here are 5 ways to secure dental coverage to maintain your oral health during your transition

5 ways to get dental coverage if you’re unemployed

The uncertainty and challenges that come with being between jobs are enough to worry anyone.

And losing your job-based health and dental coverage is like icing on the stress cake.

Especially in difficult times like these, it’s important to know your options in case you have a coverage gap.

The faster you can reinstate your coverage or find an affordable alternative, the faster you can ensure your dental health is protected.

As your san diego dentist, we’ve put together this list of 5 ways to secure the dental coverage you can get for you and your family during your unemployment transition period.

1. dental savings plans

Should you lose your job-based dental insurance, dental savings plans are a simple and affordable alternative.

Having a dental savings plan is like being part of a membership club for your teeth. Each month, you pay a flat fee and gain access to a national network of dentists who offer discounted services to plan members.

Depending on your needs, you can select an individual or family plan. From there, you can search for dentists near you that accept dental savings plans, specific treatments you need, or focus on finding the plan that will save you the most money.

Depending on your plan, you could save 10% to 60% on your dental work. And unlike dental insurance, there are no long waiting periods with dental savings plans. your benefits take effect within the first seventy-two hours of your purchase.

As long as you go to a dentist in your network, it will pay you directly for any treatment you receive. and the best part?

There’s no limit to how much you can spend, so you can take advantage of discounts as often as you like.

dental savings plans are a great way to bridge the gap if you’re between jobs or waiting for benefits to start at your new job.

2. cobra cover

cobra stands for Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act and is an act that was signed into law in the 1980s.

Cobra requires companies that provide health care coverage to offer continued benefits to you and your family for a set period of time after your employment status changes.

Under this law, you will be offered eighteen to thirty-six months of extended coverage after you quit your job, lose your job, go from full-time to part-time, or if you received coverage from your spouse’s employer. .

Regardless of your situation, your employer has one month to inform the insurance company whether or not you are eligible for cobra. Once notified, the insurance company has two weeks to provide you with information on how much your extended coverage premiums will cost and what they include.

Cobra’s only drawback is that premiums are often expensive. But if you or a loved one has a chronic illness or needs dental coverage for an urgent oral health problem, it may still be worth it for you.

If you had good dental coverage at your previous job and can make it work financially, Cobra can help you stay on top of your dental health in between jobs.

3. affordable care act (aca)/obamacare coverage

If you’ve recently had a “qualifying life event,” you can apply for dental insurance through your state’s Marketplace or at healthcare.gov.

California residents can find affordable dental insurance options on the Covered California website.

But what exactly is a “qualifying life event?”

These events include losing your employer’s health and dental insurance, having a child, getting married or divorced.

If you are in any of these situations, you will qualify for a special enrollment period, which gives you sixty days to apply for aca health and dental coverage plan, even outside of the annual open enrollment period.

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In terms of price, dental coverage from ACA is probably one of the most reasonable options to help you get through a period of unemployment.

4. medi-cal dental coverage

If you’re currently between jobs and looking for a dentist in San Diego, or anywhere in California, we strongly encourage you to apply for medi-cal dental.

This program provides affordable dental coverage only to California residents who qualify.

Participating dental practices throughout California, such as Dental Express, accept Medi-Cal Dental and provide access to a variety of treatments:

• routine dental exams, x-rays and cleanings
• crowns (in some cases) and fillings
• root canals
• partial (in some cases) and complete dentures
• dental extractions
• emergency services
• and much more!

Another great advantage of medi-cal dental is that it works much like dental insurance. Once you qualify, you’ll receive an ID card to bring to all of your appointments, much like your insurance card.

plus, medi-cal dental recipients often don’t even have to pay premiums, and when they do, it’s $39 a month tops!

To see if you qualify, you can visit the covered california website, mail your application, or apply in person at your local social services office. county. .

To learn more about Medi-Cal Dental and how to put your benefits to work at your San Diego dentist, check out our Medical Dental blog here.

5. affordable financing options

This option varies from office to office, but many dentists offer affordable medical financing for any uninsured or unemployed patient.

If, for some reason, you can’t find an affordable solution using the items on this list, financing is a great way to get the treatments you need without breaking the bank.

Talk to your local San Diego dentist about low-interest medical financing today.

premium dental care that fits your budget

Losing your health and dental insurance coverage can be a mentally and emotionally draining experience.

But when it comes down to it, putting off going to the dentist will only further complicate your situation.

waiting to be seen, especially if you have an ongoing dental health issue that needs attention, will lead to much more expensive treatment down the road.

If you’re between jobs right now, don’t wait to explore your dental coverage options. Your smile needs constant care to stay healthy, and dental express san diego can help.

We specialize in providing patient-centered care, which means no matter your financial situation, we’ll meet you where you are and find a way to get you the care you need within your budget.

We accept most dental insurance providers ppo, medi-cal, and offer low-interest medical financing for every treatment, from routine dental exams to full dentures.

Keeping your smile healthy is our top priority and we look forward to working with you to find the most affordable solution for your pocketbook. If you’re unemployed and need affordable dental care, schedule an appointment online, give us a call, or stop by one of our six locations throughout San Diego for a walk-in visit.

keep reading

save your teeth and money with medi-cal dental

san diego’s newcomer’s guide to finding a dental provider

Disadvantages of dental insurance: use it or lose it

how your dental health affects your overall health