Limitations and exclusions are terms used in dental insurance policies to describe the specific services that are not covered or are limited under the plan. Limitations are restrictions placed on services covered but with certain conditions or requirements, while exclusions are services not covered by the plan at all. It’s essential to read your dental plan’s limitations and exclusions to fully understand what services are covered, what services are not, and what services may have limitations or requirements. By understanding your dental plan’s limitations and exclusions, you can better plan for your dental care expenses and avoid unexpected costs. Additionally, you can work with your dentist to make the most of your coverage and ensure you receive the dental care you need.

• Medicare may pay for skilled care in a nursing home for a very short period but no longer than 100 days and only when the patient meets all the Medicare requirements for daily professional care. While people get personal care services simultaneously, Medicare will not pay unless there is a need for daily skilled services that only a nurse or therapist can provide. Medicare may pay for some personal care services at home, but again, only if you also need skilled care daily that only a licensed person can provide. For more details, see the Medicare benefits book available from your Social Security office or call the Social Security Administration toll-free at 800-772-1213.
• Medi-Cal (called Medicaid outside California) pays for necessary health care that Medicare does not cover, but only if you meet federal and state poverty guidelines. You can get the most current information about Medi-Cal from your local county Department of Social Services, legal services Program, or an elder law attorney.
• Most people commonly use Personal Resources to pay for long-term care expenses. These funds come from personal income and resources. When family members and friends at home provide care, necessary skilled care such as equipment, transportation, and other costs not paid by Medicare are also produced from the patient’s income or savings. People who use up their assets paying for long-term care are “spending down” and may become eligible for Medi-Cal.
• Long-Term Care Insurance is designed to pay or reimburse covered long-term care costs. Understanding the coverage provided and how benefits will be paid/refunded before you purchase a Long-Term Care Policy is critical. Long-term care insurance is available from insurance companies selling in California and may be cost-effective for you if you have sufficient available income to pay the premiums.
• Source CA Dept of Ins

Question: I am looking for cheap dental insurance in California. All I need is my twice-a-year cleaning and check-ups, and I am looking for an affordable dental insurance plan that will save me money on my preventive dental care.

Reply: I suggest reviewing an HMO dental insurance plan, which runs from $7.95 to $18.95 monthly, depending on the plan. HMO dental insurance plans are generally more affordable, and most provide free preventive dental care.

What is a Dental HMO Insurance Plan?

A Dental Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) insurance plan is a type of dental insurance plan that typically requires you to choose a primary care dentist. This dentist will serve as your primary point of contact for all dental needs and will refer you to specialists within the HMO network if necessary. HMO dental insurance plans usually have lower monthly premiums than PPO (Preferred Provider Organization), but they may have more limited options for dental care providers. It’s essential to review the plan details and network of providers to ensure you can get the care you need at a price that works for you.

Call our office at 310-534-3444. We are happy to review our HMO dental insurance plan options with you.

Want an individual dental insurance plan to help you with the cost of your dental care needs? If you’re looking for a dental insurance plan to assist you with the price of your dental care needs, we can help you find the right one. Many options are available in the market, so we can explore them together and find the one that suits your needs and budget.

How Does Dental Insurance Help You With Your Dental Care Cost?

Dental insurance can help you save money on your dental care costs by covering all or a portion of the expenses associated with routine checkups, cleanings, X-rays, and other preventive services. Depending on your specific dental insurance plan, it may also cover a portion of the cost of therapeutic services, such as fillings, crowns, bridges, and orthodontic treatment. By reducing your out-of-pocket expenses, dental insurance can make it easier for you to maintain good oral health and seek necessary dental care when you need it.

Having Dental Insurance Helps You Visit the Dentist Regularly

Having dental insurance can encourage you to visit the dentist regularly because most dental insurance plans cover the cost of preventive care, such as routine checkups, cleanings, and X-rays. By taking advantage of these covered services, you can maintain good oral health and address any potential issues before they become more severe and costly. Additionally, many dental insurance plans offer incentives for regular checkups and cleanings, such as lower copays or deductibles, which can further encourage you to prioritize your dental health. Overall, having dental insurance can help make dental care more affordable and accessible, making it easier for you to care for your teeth and gums.

Question: What is the best individual dental plan to get? I have a budget of $40.00 a month on dental insurance, and I wonder if it is better to go with a lower-cost HMO plan or max my budget and get a PPO plan with a low max limitation of 1000.00.

Answer: This question depends on your own dental care needs. A low-cost HMO plan such as our California Dental and or Delta Dental is not only more affordable than our PPO options, but HMOs tend to make budgeting dental care services easier since they base their benefits on a fee schedule, which lets you know the cost for each covered service.

A PPO is more provider-friendly. PPO insurance plans allow you to choose from a broader provider list than HMO plans. However, they also typically provide benefits to non or outside-network providers. If you are still trying to decide about your options, call our member service line at 310-534-3444, as they will be happy to help you with the available dental plan options.

We have over 50 dental insurance plan options that provide a broad range of monthly costs that can help meet most people’s spend-down requirements to eliminate your share of cost.

ShareofCost.com is proud to be providing dental insurance plans now for over 20 years, helping people meet their spend-down requirements. We also have vision insurance which, like dental insurance, is an acceptable expense to reduce your income to help eliminate your medical/medicare share of cost.

If you have any questions about our dental insurance and plan options, please call our member services line at 310-534-3444, as we will be happy to assist you in your dental insurance search.

Knowing your options will help you make a more informed decision on your dental health care plan. At ShareofCost.com, we provide over 50 dental insurance plan options for your view so you can best pick the plan that will fit you and or your family’s needs. When choosing the right dental insurance plan for you and or your family, it is helpful to know the different plan types available.

What is a Dental HMO Insurance Plan? A Dental HMO Insurance plan is a type of dental insurance in which you must choose a primary care dentist who will provide most of your dental care. You can only see specialists if your primary care dentist refers you to them. Dental HMO plans typically have lower out-of-pocket costs than other dental insurance plans, but they also have less flexibility regarding which dentists you can see.

What is a Dental PPO Insurance Plan? A Dental PPO Insurance plan is a type of dental insurance that allows you to see any dentist you want, even if they are outside of the plan’s network. However, you typically pay less if you see a dentist within the plan’s network. Dental PPO plans tend to have higher out-of-pocket costs than Dental HMO plans, but they also offer more flexibility when choosing a dentist.

What is a Dental Indemnity Insurance Plan? A Dental Indemnity Insurance plan is a type of dental insurance that allows you to see any dentist you want without any limitations or restrictions on which dentists you can see. You will typically pay a percentage of the cost of your dental care, and the insurance company will pay the remaining percentage. Dental Indemnity plans tend to have higher out-of-pocket costs than other dental insurance plans, but they also offer the most flexibility when choosing a dentist.

For anyone who wants to address a spend-down to eliminate their share of cost, we at ShareOfCost.com have a broad range of dental insurance plans which help us meet your spend-down requirements. Just call our office, and we will go over the options available. Our member service line is at 310-534-3444, and we will be happy to assist you in buying the best dental plan for your needs.

Whether you want basic dental coverage for preventive dental care to maintain your oral health care or a specialty referral for more extensive dental care needs, California Dental Insurance has HMO insurance plans to help address your current and future dental care. 

What is a Dental HMO Insurance Plan? A Dental HMO Insurance plan is a type of dental insurance in which you must choose a primary care dentist who will provide most of your dental care. You can only see specialists if your primary care dentist refers you to them. Dental HMO plans typically have lower out-of-pocket costs than other dental insurance plans, but they also have less flexibility regarding which dentists you can see.

For people who may have a lower spend down amount, these HMO plans work well for that. These California dental HMO insurance plans range from $7.95 to $12.95 and $18.95 monthly for an individual. Making so you do not have to overspend for lower spend-down requirements. Our office can help you meet your spend-down requirement on a low-high spend-down cost requirement.

Whether you have questions about California Dental or any of our other insurance plan options, please call our member service line at 310-534-3444, as we will be happy to assist you in buying the best dental plan for your needs.

Too often, people either buy or receive dental insurance without knowing the terms and conditions of the plan. Knowing what is and is not covered and how much is vital if you use the plan. Before using your dental insurance plan and going to the dentist, take the time to read through your dental policy terms and conditions.

Dental insurance plan terms and conditions usually outline the coverage and benefits provided by the plan, as well as any exclusions or limitations. This may include details on the types of dental services covered, such as routine cleanings, fillings, and major procedures like root canals or orthodontics. The policy may also specify any waiting periods or pre-existing condition limitations, as well as any deductibles, copays, or coinsurance requirements that the member is responsible for. Additionally, the terms and conditions may outline the process for filing claims and any deadlines or documentation requirements. Call our member service line at 310-534-3444 if you have any questions about our dental insurance and plan options, as we will be happy to help.

This may seem straight forward, but you can avoid your children having dental decay by making sure they have the right brushing and flossing habits. The first step to dental care and good oral health comes from home.  Make sure your children are brushing and flossing correctly. That means brushing for at least two minutes two times a day. I suggest that if they have a full breakfast, lunch and dinner, they should brush up after every major meal.  

Your child should also learn how to floss. Flossing needs to be done once a day. Now I am not one to say do not give sweets to kids, because the fact is, tooth decay can happen with any food item if good brushing habits are not in place. However, it is a good idea to try and avoid food that can be harmful to tooth enamel.. Food like sour candy, soda, even too many fruits with acids like oranges or orange juice can be harmful. Be mindful of these types of food as they can over time wear down tooth enamel that helps protect the tooth from decay. And do not forget the importance of seeing your family dentist at least twice a year. Prevention is the key to keeping your dental cost low.

There are several causes of headaches behind the ear. A headache behind the ear refers to any pain that originates from that specific area of the head. Though headaches themselves are very common, headaches that occur exclusively behind the ear are fairly unusual. This type of headache pain can have several causes, from nerve injury to dental problems. The cause of the headache behind the ear will determine symptoms and treatment.With regards to dental problems. The temporomandibular joints (TMJ) can cause aching behind the ear and it is usually accompanied by jaw pain. The temporomandibular joints are the ball and socket joints of the jaw. These joints can become inflamed and painful. While most people with TMJ inflammation feel pain in the jaw and behind the ear, others may just experience a headache behind the ear.

TMJ can be caused by:

stress 

tooth grinding 

arthritis 

injury 

jaw alignment 

If you feel you may have TMJ issues, talk it over with your dentist. As a dentist will be able to confirm if in fact that is the case and help treat it.

Tooth decay is the destruction of the outer surface of a tooth by acid-forming bacteria that is produced by food containing carbohydrates (sugars and starches).

Tooth Decay Prevention

Brush your teeth twice a day with a toothpaste that contains fluoride. Preferably, brush after each meal and before bedtime to help reduce the bacteria from staying on your teeth for a certain length of time.

You may wish to consider these helpful tips as well:

– Floss your teeth daily to prevent tooth decay and gum disease.

– Check with your dentist regarding the use of a supplemental fluoride which strengthens your teeth and helps prevent tooth decay.

– Consider dental sealants, which are a plastic like substance placed on the top of molars to protect the teeth from decay.

– Use mouth wash with fluoride. Many of them kill 50% or more of the bacteria that cause tooth decay.

– Chewing gum with the ingredient Xylitol may also kill some of the bacteria which causes tooth decay.

-Visit your dentist regularly

-Maintain dental insurance and or a dental plan to keep your dental cost low.

Tooth decay in children is an occurring health condition. Due to dental issues, children miss 52 million hours of school every year. If dental problems are left untreated, children will develop further health problems. 30% to 50% of children between 4 and 5 years old already struggle with tooth decay.    There are many reasons for this problem but a few are due to the fact that dental benefits are not provided through the parents’ employer. Some parents fail to acknowledge the importance of early dental care for kids. Children of low income families are more predisposed to developing tooth decay and dental care costs are too expensive for children.

Gum Disease and Blood Pressure  Research shows that periodontitis, a severe gum disease, is linked to higher blood pressure in otherwise healthy individuals. This study of 500 adults with and without gum disease found that approximately 50% of adults could have undetected hypertension. Promotion of good oral health could help reduce gum disease and the risk of high blood pressure and its complications.

While there are few studies available that specifically examined toothbrushes or floss alone, both are still essential. Floss is especially useful to remove interdental plaque for people who have tight space between their teeth. Floss also likely reduces the risk for cavities that come from between the teeth. 

Tooth brushing is the cornerstone of daily oral hygiene and is a reliable way to control dental plaque. According to research, interdental brushes and water picks performed better than other interdental oral hygiene devices at reducing gingivitis, and both should be used in combination with daily tooth brushing to prevent gum disease.