When dental insurance costs too much, help is here!

Dental insurance costs can be well over $1,000 a year depending on the services and coverage offered, required copays, and deductibles. And yet, oral health is critical to our overall health--over 100 different conditions can be discovered by a regular oral exam. Some other conditions like blood pressure, diabetes, and other chronic conditions adversely affect our teeth. So why is oral health coverage still so expensive and often something that’s elective?

While we at HELP may not be able to fully answer that question, we are in the business of providing an alternative solution for the expense of dental care. If dental insurance is going to cost you too much, consider becoming a patient at the HELP Clinics in Hampton. For a donation of $50, we can provide the basic coverage you’d receive from a dental plan--an exam, x-ray, and yearly cleaning. And the best news--any follow-up visits or procedures are just $25 per visit. That’s not $25 per procedure. Just $25 per visit, saving you BIG over the costs associated with a private dentist. 

If your household income is below 300% of the Federal Poverty Level (check your eligibility here), you may qualify for care. Your employer doesn’t offer dental insurance? You may qualify! Working two or three part-time jobs and not eligible for benefits? You may qualify! Dental insurance too expensive? You may qualify! 

Here’s a simple comparison:

Become a patient at the HELP Dental Clinic and get your initial exam, x-rays, and cleaning ($50). Then see the dentist to clear up any issues like fillings, extractions, etc., let’s say three additional times ($75). And come back one more time for your 6-month cleaning ($25). Total cost: $150

OR

Pay for insurance through your company ($30/month x 12 = $360/year). Your exam, x-ray, and cleanings will likely be covered without a copay at that time, but you’re still paying a $360 yearly premium. Then let’s get those cavities fixed and teeth pulled at just two additional visits and a copayment of $50 per procedure--let’s say 4 different teeth ($200). Total cost: $560

OR

Forego insurance and just walk into the dentist’s office for care. Initial exam & x-ray? $175 or more. Need a tooth out? $150 EACH. Cleaning? $100 at least. Total cost: over $1,000. 

We all make sacrifices in life to get what we want out of it--but sacrificing our oral health just to be able to make ends meet shouldn’t be a sacrifice that we are forced to make. Thankfully, HELP is closer than you think. Check us out at www.helphampton.org to see if you are eligible for care at our clinic and take control of your oral health.