Dental/Vision Insurance

[msscranton]

Perhaps this question has already been asked but, for those of you that are full time, how do you handle dental and vision insurance? I think most of those policies are sold with a premium based on your residence.

[MSHappyCampers]

Hi ! Welcome to IRV2! We're sure glad you joined the gang!

We're not fulltimers so won't attempt to answer your question. Just noticed you are new here and wanted to say hello!

Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!

[Barbaraok]

As part of our retirement package, we have vision and dental insurance offered. We took the vision insurance and that has worked well. I was never really happy with the dental insurance that we had at work, but as a retiree it was going to cost more and had the same coverage - which wasn't great. So we decided to self-insure. I just set aside what we would have paid in insurance, made sure BEFORE we started full timing that all dental work was done (including have all old silver fillings replaced) and we hit the road. 13 yrs later we are still ahead. We found a dentist in Mesa, AZ that we like, who gives a discount to those who stay in RV parks near his office, and also a discount if you pay by cash/check. We have had a few things done besides regular cleanings over the years, but had the funds available to cover them. Now neither of us cares about the fact that our teeth are brilliant white, etc., so really it is just 2 cleanings for each of us during the year. Works for us.

[TechWriter]

Originally Posted by msscranton

Perhaps this question has already been asked but, for those of you that are full time, how do you handle dental and vision insurance? I think most of those policies are sold with a premium based on your residence.

I've found that dental insurance just isn't worth it. So it's either cash or a trip south of the border. I've been paying cash.

However, a lot depends on your teeth -- what shape are they in? In my case, I have several old crowns that need replacing. Pricey!!!

Let me explain why I didn't select one of the three AARP Delta Dental Plans (see graphic below):

• First, you're right. Premiums depend on your ZIP code.
• Second, of the three AARP Delta plans, only the HMO (DeltaCare USA) looked viable because of no yearly benefit max and low premiums.
• Third, however, the 12-month major benefit wait, 5-year crown replacement limit, and yearly premium amount made the HMO a no-go. For example, I currently spend $155 per checkup which amounts to $310/year. My dental premium would be $375/year. No thanks.

[grindstone01]

As retirees, we have Delta dental and vision insurance and they are not worth it.
For vision, we recently got our insurance covered exams at SVS for $10 and then a contact exam which cost an additional $65. The $65 cost was the same cash price we quoted at another walk in vision store, not using insurance. The insurance included free under $100 frames, but the lens were $350. We took the free frames and went to Walmart where they fitted lens for less than 1/2 price cash. SVS had to call HQ to get approval to let us walk out with the empty frames.

Delta dental is no better, local dentist told me I needed a crown replaced and my copay would be $650, on top of my $1000 benefit. I'm going to Progresso, MX this winter with my X-rays, and I will see about a cash cost there and it should be less than my copay for the crown

[marjoa]

After the con game and support of Obama care we won't buy anything associated with AARP. EVER!

We also got all our dental stuff done and up-to-date before we went FT. Hubby gets all his eye stuff done for free at the VA. We get our dental care done in Progresso, Mexico and have had no problem finding US dentists that give us great discounts for our interim cleanings while on the road. Every other year, I get my eye exams and glasses self paid in the US which is usually around $300 or so.

Dental & eye insurance is a rip off and to much of a hassle IMO.

Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters - Albert Einstein