Share of Cost, Preferred Provider Organizations (PPO)
Another true dental insurance plan, a Preferred provider organizations ( PPO) falls somewhere between an indemnity plan and a dental HMO. This plan allows a particular group of patients to receive dental care from a defined panel of individual dental insurance dentists. This type could be used to provide dental gap insurance.
The participating individual or family office agrees to charge less than usual fees to this specific patient base, providing savings for the plan purchaser. If the patient chooses to see one who is not designated as a “preferred provider,” that patient may be required to pay a greater share of the fee-for-service.
A group of individual or family dentistry providers agrees to provide services at a deeply discounted rate, giving you substantial savings — as long as you stay in their network. Unlike the more restrictive DHMO, though, you can go out of network and still receive some benefits.