I have had both the HMO and PPO over the years. If you don’t have any major work done and are happy with one of the major dental chains then you can save with the HMO. If you have even one thing major done (cap, root, bridge, etc.) you will save with PPO due to lower co-pays. You also will get a broader choice of providers with the PPO, which was the main reason I switched back after a year in the HMO.
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Do without.
If you and your cousin Tammy are backwoods hillbillies with extensive needs for dental work the HMO might end up costing less if you can find a dentist willing to see you, but for most normal humans the PPO is the way to go. Everyone loves it.
I have had the Dental HMO for over 20 years and have no complaints. My dental provider in the greater Houston area is great. I go in for my two annual exams and cleanings and pay nothing extra. My wife and I have had work done, such as root canals, bridges and fillings done through the dental HMO provider. We had to pay out of pocket for the copay portion. Again, no complaints on the dollar amount I had to pay. Fair and honest for me. I guess some people may not have the same experience as us, but just as in life, there’s good and bad services everywhere. I have always found a satisfactory provider through my dental HMO network. On the other hand, the Dental PPO May give you more choices to see more dentists, but the monthly premium is 3 or 4 times higher and worst of all, the maximum annual charges to the insurance company is capped at a ridiculous low amount. The PPO is not a great deal.
So there is a mo–n on here blaming the actions of a supposed unscrupulous dentist (sounds like BS) on an Insurance Provider? Really? Do you also blame Allstate for your car braking down? My regular dentist is with Delta Denta as are many others. Never had any problems. Everyone knows you need to get the 2 annual cleanings for it to be worth it. Any major work done is much cheaper than without. If you don't regularly see a trustworthy dentist, that's on you. If you don't get the cleanings, it can be cheaper to pay for service directly unless you need a lot of major work, that's the way it's always been, what's to learn?
Avoid the Dental HMO like the plague, which you may contract if you visit a dentist.
Subsidized cover health and vision through Cobra. For Dental, you simply call the SAME Cobra line and enroll, and there wasn't a rate change, so came out the same. Cobra web site will set you up for auto pay. BTW, yes in year past, Dental HMO had poor choices, but when I looked yesterday, my dentist was on both and numerous others in area. I think perhaps switch from United Concordia helped....For much of discussion on vision worth it, does depend too if you have family, i.e. vision plan is better than Walmart if wife and kids still on.
You don’t want the dental HMO. One year I decided to do that in an attempt to save $. There were only like 2 providers within a 50 mile radius that would accept it. I went to one and they cleaned my teeth and then the dentist came in and looked at my teeth. He was way over-aggressive and claimed I needed all kinds of work done. He wanted to replace crowns I had put in in few years earlier, When there was nothing wrong with them but just claiming they would go bad soon. He said I needed like 5 fillings. He added up all his recommendations and it was going to be close to $4000. He!! No!
I left not feeling good about any of his recommendations and didn’t act on any of it. I just never went back until the next year when I went back to my regular dentist and after I signed back up for the regular PPO. A year later my regular dentist checked out my teeth and said everything looked good. I didn’t even tell him about the the HMO dentist recommended the year before. That was almost 5 years ago and I still never acted on his these “recommended procedures” my teeth have been fine.
They make their money through bogus recommendations.
Vision is not worth the cost. If you go to Walmart or Costco than savings with insurance are small relative to the premium payments over a year. Dental HMO is a false “deal” over Dental PPO, as only a few of the warehouse chains except the HMO insurance for cleanings and for anything big stuff they are closer to a discount card than insurance.
Go directly to your dentist and see if they offer a plan. I've heard good things about going that route.
No, the Vision and Medical is through Cobra. Yes, I had to call Cobra for dental, but got the exact same dental coverage as before and same price. Chevron wasn't clear on dental that you simply add through the Cobra line. Also during open season, I noticed the Dental HMO is much cheaper than Dental PPO. Both are run through Dental Dental. Cobra web site is pretty good after your get id, and they have links to Chevron HR as well. Long story short, for one year, no change to all.....
Actually, you can take COBRA dental coverage - you just are on your own to pay for it.
Chevron is currently in open enrollment period. You can select Chevron Dental only and forego Chevron Medical. The COBRA period will keep you with your subsidized medical and once it’s over, simply do not renew the medical. But, you are allowed to use the open enrollment period to get Chevron Dental without the medical if you like. Call the HR Benefits Center to get enrolled in Dental for Jan 1 2021. The Dental HMO Plan in Texas is $30.70 per month for the retiree and spouse.
Costco is pretty good for vision. You can go to Mexico for major dental.
Honestly, the dental was never very good anyways. Unless you are in need of a lot of dental work you are probably better off to just pay out of pocket anyway, and if you do need a lot of work, I suggest you hurry and get it done now before you lose your dental coverage.