Do you really save money by giving up the freedom to go to the
dentist of your choice? This is one of many questions frequently asked about
dental insurance. Dr. Niessen offers advice as annual enrollment in
health and dental plans approaches this fall, in this week’s Dental Health
Check.
STORY: Dental
Insurance
script # 522 SHOOT: 8/12/03
AIRDATE: Monday, Sept. 8, 2003
Daybreak and Midday
DHC Masters #18 Timecode: 19:01 Health and dental insurance
questions often come up this
time of year when employers
ask employees to enroll in
new plans.
New, low cost dental plans
often look better than they
really are.
Dr. Linda Niessen sorts through
the confusion and offers advice
about dental insurance in today’s Dental
SOVT: 1:49 Health Check.
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PERSON IN THE DENTAL CHAIR (VOICE-OVER)
Who really needs dental insurance
and which plans are the best?
Do you really save money by
giving up the freedom to go
to the dentist of your choice?
SUPER: Joan Sierra :13-17 (“I remembered your segment. And
Dental Patient I thought, who better to ask.”
JOAN WITH GIRLS Joan Sierra, a mother of two,
WALKING INTO OFFICE asked these questions and many
others in her search for dental
insurance for her family of four.
JOAN SIERRA (“So I went to the internet to look
up some dental plans, but instead of
dental plans, what I got were discount
dental plans, not dental insurance.”)
SEARCHING THE INTERNET You may find lots of information
on the internet, but most of it
from companies trying to sell
a plan that costs from
10 to 50 dollars a month.
Ask many questions because you
may save very little money.
Page 2 Dental Insurance
MORE DENTAL SCENES What procedures are covered?
What is NOT covered?
Can I choose my dentist?
SUPER: Dr. Amy Bender (“I would ask if you are going
Dentist :57-1:03 to be able to choose your dentist
from anyone, not choose from a
list. Because sometimes you’ll get
into an office where they have so many
patients and somebody who is fearful
may have trouble because they won’t
get the time that they need to feel
comfortable.”)
CHILD IN DENTAL CHAIR Will the plan allow for referrals
to specialists?
How does the plan provide for
emergency dental treatment?
Does the plan exclude all
pre-existing conditions such as
missing teeth?
DR. BENDER (“Or if a crown needs to be replaced,
there may be a waiting period of
4 to 5 years.”)
ON CAMERA (STAND-UP CLOSE)
Most dental plans do not cover
dental implants, specialist referrals
and many other common dental
procedures such as sealants.
So ask lots of questions and don’t
sign up until you get all the
answers. For Baylor College of
Dentistry, Texas A &M system,
I’m Dr. Linda Niessen, Channel
8 News.