In any individual dental plan, there are usually three parties:
You, the patient
The dentist providing care
And a third party with whom you or your employer contracts for coverage.
The primary responsibility of the third party is to provide the financial foundation for your individual dental plan. There are three types of third parties in any individual dental plan.
Dental Service Corporations. These are the not-for-profit organizations that negotiate and administer contracts for individual dental plan plans or specific groups of patients. Delta Dental Plan and Blue Cross/Blue Shield Plans are examples of this third party type.
Insurance Carriers. These are the for-profit companies who underwrite the financial risk of, and process payment claims for, dental services. Carriers contract with individual dental plan seekers or patient groups to offer a variety of dental benefits packages, often including both fee-for-service and managed care plans.
Self-Funded Insurers. These companies use their own funds to underwrite the expense of providing dental care to their employees. The company pays for the dental costs of its employees, usually with limitations on services and fixed-dollar allocations.
Being informed and selecting a individual dental plan plan suited for your needs is the wisest decision that you can take in the management of your dental health.