How to save on dental treatment in the USA
In America, there is always a reason to be afraid of dentists — prices. If you thought that caries is expensively treated in your own clinic, then hurry to change your mind. Treatment of ONE TOOTH in the USA will cost $200-2000.
Prices for prosthetics or braces can scare children for disobedience. Even regular cleaning is not for everyone. But American Butler knows how to get around this financial hole and cure teeth as efficiently and inexpensively as possible.
To treat teeth in the USA is not a cheap pleasure. Even if help is needed urgently, not everyone is willing to lay out cosmic $200-500 for simple treatment or removal of one tooth. Some Americans regularly go to Mexico, to dentists with low qualifications, but more affordable prices. So that you do not have to cross the border because of caries, we will talk about the most budgetary and at the same time safe options for dental care in America.
Perhaps the most important thing to say is to check the condition of your teeth before traveling or moving to the USA. This is something that can save you money, nerves and time.
Any, even the most difficult treatment in Russia will cost much less.
Dental treatment insurance
If you already live in the United States, then you probably have health insurance. Usually, insurance does not cover the services of a dentist — there are separate insurance plans for this. They cost tangible money ($40-150 per month), but in any case, cheaper than large-scale treatment.
If you know that your teeth are not all smooth, it is better to purchase. In particular, it is worth spending if:
- you have bad heredity on the part of the teeth;
- you have already had prosthetics;
- you occasionally have minor inflammations of the gums or other discomfort in the mouth;
- you wore or wear braces.
About what options are available and how much the policy will cost, you can ask the same agent who issued you general insurance. For some services in the clinics, you may be required to pay a surcharge, so you need to carefully study their complete lists before you buy.
State dental insurance programs include, for example:
- CHIP
Is a general insurance with included dentistry for children under 19.
- Medicare
Is an option for the elderly, as well as people with certain diseases (their list can be clarified in the Department of Health, the nearest office will be prompted by calling 211).
- Medicaid
Is a program for the poor, the conditions for its acquisition in each state of their own.
Budget clinics
It is not always necessary to acquire a policy, and it is unlikely that it will reach its hands if you need help as soon as possible. In this case, it is worth considering the following several options.
- Free or public clinics
In addition to private, state-owned and free clinics operate in the states. For one visit, they take about $15-20 - this includes examinations, cleaning, treatment and everything else. Some people think that treatment in such institutions is simply worse in quality, but this is a myth. All the equipment is new, the doctors are qualified, the reviews about them are mostly positive. Often young professionals work in such places, who still cannot or do not want to open their own business.
To get an appointment, you need:
- 01.Find a clinic nearest to your home — information about them can be found on the website of the Health Bureau (www.hrsa.gov) or by calling 1-888-275-4772;
- 02.Bring with you an ID or driver's license, proof of residence (you can provide any accounts that come to your address) and copies of the last two checks from work.
There are also voluntary clinics. There you can recover for free or leave a feasible charitable contribution. More information about their location can be found on the websites of the Bureau of Health or the United Way Charitable Foundation.
- Training clinics
Another chance to save money is to treat the teeth of student interns and recent graduates. All procedures are carried out under the supervision of experienced doctors, but they are two to three times cheaper. If, nevertheless, the risks are scary, then at least for preventive cleaning students can save a lot.
To get an appointment, you need:
- 01.Find an educational institution on the website of the American Dental Association;
- 02.Fill out an online form or submit an application by phone.
Due to the high demand, you are unlikely to be accepted immediately. The average waiting time for treatment or brushing is 1-2 weeks. Urgent dentists will only be able to help with tooth extraction.
- Clinical researches
The website of the National Institute for Health Research (www.nih.gov) periodically publishes announcements about the recruitment of dental teams. It also describes all the requirements, risks and benefits of participation in each individual experiment. If you respond, all the help of a dentist will cost you either at the lowest prices or for free.
Discounts, loans, installments
There are special offers and promotions for lower prices for dentist services. But first try to do it easier: after inspection and announcement of the price in the dentist’s chair, say that the cost is too high for you. Often, doctors do not want to lose a client and either offer a discount, or recommend someone from their colleagues on the "special offer".
- Discount plans
The website www.dentalplans.com published a mass of treatment plans with discounts of 10-60%, the program involves more than 100,000 doctors throughout North America. For a small annual fee, the company provides a selection of discounts. Some programs are held in the framework of advertising and charity events, the treatment itself is free of charge. This is the largest aggregator of discounts, you can try to find analogues in your state.
- Loan programs
The most famous of them is called CareCredit. In essence, this is the provision of an individually calculated credit limit for the services of medicine, dentistry, cosmetology, and veterinary medicine. The loan is extinguished without interest for the year. If you make only the minimum payments, in a year you will have to pay 30% on top. Rates and conditions vary depending on the companies, you can choose the most suitable.
- Installment plan
Approximately 4 out of 10 clinics can work in installments. Usually this is silent, but it is worth to find out about this possibility from the doctor. The percentage of installments is usually 5-10% of the cost of treatment.
The need to save on dentists is far from the most difficult task for those who arrived in America. So that life under the new rules does not turn into stress, the company American Butler regularly covers the most pressing issues and helps in all situations.
We are engaged in both problem solving and leisure activities in the USA. Contact us with any question you are interested in — we are always happy to be useful!
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