Most people like a good deal: Black Friday doorbuster specials, 75 percent off sales, and those incredible you-don’t-want-to-miss bargains. The same applies to dental insurance: employees want to make sure they receive the best value for their benefit dollars.

Dental plans may look similar on the surface, but in reality, each is designed and administered differently. Every insurance carrier has a different business philosophy and plan options. Many plans feature a network of dental providers who have agreed to provide services at discounted fees based on the usual and customary charges in a specific area. While dentists may have an agreement with more than one dental carrier, the structure and coverage levels in each network may be different. Employers and producers need to review the dental contract to understand the network design and determine whether the plan will meet the needs of employees and their family members.

To help you understand the differences between dental networks, read the following excerpt from an article written by Scott Llewellyn, a regional sales representative for Ameritas Group. He objectively describes how dental networks are designed and the variations to look for when reviewing plans. View full article »