Careington Dental

Careington Dental Review

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report Disparities in Oral Health, 47 percent of U.S. adults have some form of periodontal disease, and that percentage rises to 70 percent in those over age 65. A National Association of Dental Plans report reveals 74 million Americans have no dental coverage, often due to cost. A Careington dental savings plan is a budget-friendly option to reduce the cost of dental care if you have no insurance or your dental policy coverage is inadequate.

Careington offers dental savings plans for individuals and businesses across the country. Also known as dental discount plans, these membership-based programs provide savings on preventive dental care and treatments to individuals, families and larger groups, such as businesses and unions.

Dental providers who choose to participate in a Careington dental savings plan agree to accept a discounted payment from plan members to significantly reduce the cost of dental care. You can use a Careington dental savings plan in tandem with traditional dental insurance once you exhaust annual benefits caps.

Pros

• Easy-to-understand dental fee explanations
• No annual spending limit
• No monthly premiums, copays or deductibles
• No exclusions or health restrictions
• Same-day plan activation; no waiting for insurance authorization

Cons

• Plans could be unavailable or restricted depending on consumer’s location

In addition to the dental savings program, Careington has five registered brands in the insurance, medical service and dental industries. The company is the co-founder and a current member of the Consumer Health Alliance, the national trade association for discount health care programs, and the National Association of Dental Plans, the most recognized resource for the dental benefits industry.

How to Use a Careington Dental Savings Plan

Source: Careington Dental

Careington offers dental savings plans in most parts of the U.S. and the plans you have access to depend on your location. To research plans for your area, enter your ZIP code on Careington’s website, then your email address. Some plans cover cosmetic dentistry and specialists like orthodontists.

After you search for providers on the Careington website and buy a dental savings plan (or call to do so), schedule a dental appointment and confirm the dentist’s participation in your plan. Show your membership card at the time of service to receive the discounts. You will pay reduced fees at the time of service.

For a typical urban area, four plans are available:

• Careington 500 Dental Savings Plan offers the deepest discounts. Members save 20 percent to 60 percent on routine dental procedures and 20 percent on orthodontic services, including braces.

• Careington Discount Dental Plan has the most extensive dental provider network. Members save 5 percent to 60 percent on most routine dental procedures.

• Careington Dental & Vision Discount Plan offers the savings of the Discount Dental Plan plus savings on vision care, such as eye exams, frames, lenses and LASIK vision correction.

• Careington Dental, Vision Plus Telemedicine Plan combines the savings of the Dental & Vision Discount Plan with discounts on prescriptions and 24/7 access to licensed physicians via phone and nurse lines for non-emergency illnesses, such as cold and flu symptoms and ear, throat and sinus infections.

What do Careington Dental Savings Plans Cost?

Careington’s dental savings plans start at $8.95 per month, with a one-time nonrefundable $20 processing fee. You can cancel within 30 days for a full refund, minus the processing fee.

Careington Dental Savings Plans Customer Support

Consumers can go to the Careington website to sign up and pay for a dental savings plan, locate participating Careington dental care providers in their area and nominate providers who are not currently available. Options for contacting Careington include calling, email, or using the live chat feature on the website to communicate with a Member Services Agent. Consumers can enter an email address on the site to subscribe to special offers.

Careington Dental Complaints

We found no consumer feedback entirely dedicated to Careington dental savings plans, so we looked at reviews for the parent company. Careington International Corporation is rated at 2.2 out of 5 stars on ConsumerAffairs and is not currently a ConsumerAffairs Accredited Brand. While the company has an “A+” rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), customer ratings average 2.8 out of 5 stars with 65 complaints in the last three years. Positive reviews speak to the friendly and efficient customer service, the financial value of the plans, the smooth claims processing, and the broad provider network options.

Customer complaints typically center on inaccurate provider lists, confusion about fee schedules, and dissatisfaction with the default auto-renewal feature of each plan. On both the ConsumerAffairs and BBB websites, Careington responded to every complaint or low rating with an explanation and an offer to reach out personally to a member of their customer support team.

Source: Careington Dental

Careington Dental FAQ

• How soon can I use a Careington dental savings plan after I purchase it?
  You will receive your member ID number the same day you enroll in a Careington dental savings plan. Membership cards and related materials arrive within 7-10 business days after purchase.

• Can I use my Careington dental savings plan when I travel away from home?
  As long as you have your Careington member ID number available, you can use your Careington plan at any participating dentist in the U.S.

• Can I use a Careington dental savings plan if there’s no provider near my home?
  Most members have at least one dental care provider within a 50-mile radius of their home. In cases where no dental care providers are available, members may nominate a provider for inclusion in the Careington network, then a representative contacts the nominated dental care provider to explain how to participate in the network. The application process and acceptance of a dental care provider can take 60 to 90 days.

• Can I use my Careington dental savings plan at more than one provider?
  You can use your Careington dental savings plan at any participating dental care provider in the United States, and you don’t have to keep the same provider for each visit.

• What can I do if I feel a dental care provider in the Careington dental savings plan network overcharged me?
  Members can send a letter detailing the concern with a copy of the bill to the plan administrator listed on their policy or the Careington website. The administrator will investigate the rate charged and contact the member with the findings of the investigation.

Conclusion

Careington dental savings plans offer a variety of options to consumers seeking an affordable path to dental care. The various plans focus on deep discounts, extensive provider network access, and additional services such as vision care, prescription discounts and others. Careington International Corporation is known for its long tenure in the industry, highly responsive customer support, and international reach. A Careington dental savings plan can save you hundreds of dollars each year.