CONSULATE
Consulate Dental Plans – California Dental Insurance HMO Providers
Question: I like the cost of an HMO, but if my dentist is not a plan provider, can I still go to him and pay a little more?
Answer: The quick reply would be No. In an HMO dental plan, you must choose a plan dentist who is a part of the network of providers. This dentist will be responsible for providing you with all of your dental care needs. If you choose to see a dentist who is not a part of the plan, you will likely have to pay out-of-pocket for the services you receive. This is because HMO insurance plans will not cover the non-plan provider’s assistance costs.
You should review a dental PPO plan if you want to stay with your current dentist. PPO plans will let you choose a plan provider or go outside to a nonplan provider. Allowing you to keep the dentist you are currently with. However, you will need to read the plan benefits carefully to verify if a coverage difference exists for non-providers vs. providers of the plan.