What to Consider

Marshall & Sterling Insurance can assist your company in evaluating the need for a dental plan for the company and selecting the right plan to fit the unique needs of the company and its employees.

Before selecting or changing a dental plan, there are some important things to consider. Fully insured dental plans are typically business arrangements between an insurance company and an employer. Most plans are designed to pay only a portion of dental expenses. However, dental plans may exclude or discourage certain treatments, such as dental sealants, which can prevent tooth decay and save money later on. If a plan doesn't cover a specific procedure,this does not mean that the treatment isn't appropriate or needed.

In a self-insured plan, the employer generally has more flexibility to determine what dental expenses will be covered. However, many self-insured plans are administered by insurance companies under an "administrative services only" (ASO) agreement. In such cases, the insurance company's standards and procedures will usually determine what benefits are covered, even though the plan is self-insured.