Jun
26
This is a common question new self employed professionals and small business owners often ask – is dental insurance a priority? It is an important question and definitely deserves your attention if you hope to plan properly for the future. Of all general health insurance concerns, dental coverage almost always seems to slip through the cracks. It is easy to neglect your teeth when you do not perceive them as a life and death matter.
My position on this issue is very simple: dental insurance is important if you cannot cover your dental costs out-of-pocket.
Imagine a common situation and apply it to your own life: What would happen tomorrow if you suddenly discovered that you had a cavity, you need a root canal, and your dentist recommends a new crown on one of your molars? How would you handle this situation? How much money will all of this cost out-of-pocket and how much would it cost if you had proper dental coverage?
This might be extreme, but I would actually suggest visiting or calling a local dentist to ask him or her for a quick quote on this exact scenario. Once they give you the numbers, then start shopping around for self employed dental insurance online. Then you can perform a basic cost-benefit analysis to find out if it would be worth it for you to invest in the insurance over time.
I think the question of whether or not to get small business dental coverage usually involves much more than you alone. You should really think seriously about the other people in your life. If you have a family and small or young children, this should be a no-brainer. Kids need dental care, and if mom and dad don’t have proper insurance one cavity bill can turn into three or four very quickly. In my humble opinion, you have a responsibility as a parent to provide proper health and dental coverage for your children if you have the means to do it.
At the end of the day, this is all about how much risk you are willing to take or prepared to take in your life. You do not want to put your business or profession on the line if you are worried about health and dental costs. Self employed insurance is a tricky thing that depends largely on the individual. Think carefully about it and research your options online.