What is fee for service dental insurance?

Dr. Michael Roizen, MD

Internal Medicine

Fee for service dental insurance can be summed up in three words: freedom of choice. Direct reimbursement (DR) programs are the standard fee for service dental insurance plans. These plans reimburse you for a certain percentage of the money you spend on dental care, no matter what type of care it is. This percentage is predetermined when you sign up for the plan. While these plans do not limit which dentists you can go to and what type of care you are covered for, it does encourage you to negotiate a reasonable price for procedures with your dentist.

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Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.

Dental Insurance Plans

You are at the dentist and have been asked to "open wide", only it's your wallet and not your mouth that is being asked to open. If this is a concern, various dental plans may come to the rescue. Like regular insurance, there are Health Maintenance Organization plans (HMO) and Preferred Provider (PPO) plans. Most work on a fee for service basis where a particular treatment is reimbursed at a standard rate. Plans often have annual limits on services, and may pay for cleaning only once or twice a year. Few plans cover cosmetic services like whitening. Many times major services need to be pre-approved. With most plans you can be assured of a standard level of payment for required basic services inside of a coverage network.

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