Delta Dental or contribute to HSA?

[ChalupaBatman86]

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Hello Dentists!

Pharmacist here, requesting advice. Open enrollment is coming and I am trying to decide whether to pay $150 per month for Delta Dental (family) or just put an extra $200 per month in my HSA and pay cash for cleanings and any procedures. Any advice? The only expected upcoming major expense is braces for one of my kids, and that is not covered anyway. Thanks in advance!

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[Soleus715]

I work in a dental office and I think that it depends on where you are and how much cleanings tend to cost.
Since you won't have any major expenses besides the braces, I'll only calculate the cleanings.

In my state, 4 people (2 adults, 2 kids) will pay $640/ year for cleanings/x-rays.

$150/mo for Delta adds up to a whopping $1800/ year.

Even if your dental office charged 2x the cost, it would still be better not getting the insurance.
Even if someone in the family needed other dental treatment, the deductibles will limit the benefit of having insurance.
I'd utilize the HSA and use it should any one need cleanings or the occasional filling.

 

[ChalupaBatman86]

Thanks for the advice, that's kind of what I was thinking. I have heard if you are paying cash up front (or HSA debit card) you can call around and maybe get a better price since there is no billing or insurance hassles, and no waiting to get paid. I love owning the money in my HSA and spending it on my own terms.

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