Physicians Mutual Insurance Company was founded in 1920 and at first focused on offering health insurance to medical professionals. However, over time, the company expanded its offerings to include other insurance products. This now includes term life insurance, whole life insurance, Medigap, Medicare, dental insurance, and pet insurance.
So if you are shopping for dental insurance, Physicians Mutual dental insurance has some of the best coverage, rates, and plans suitable for individuals, a single family, and the entire family in general.
Dental plans from Physicians Mutual are grouped into four categories: Premier, Preferred, Standard, and Economy, with all plans offering policyholders zero-dollar out-of-pocket costs when they use an in-network dentist for preventive care procedures like cleaning, X-rays, and routine exams.
On average, you also save up to 36% when you choose an in-network dentist, with no annual maximum on cash benefits.
Regardless of the plan you enroll in, you will get access to all 400+ covered dental procedures like tooth extractions, root canals, and fillings, but bear in mind that you will tend to pay more depending on your selected plan.
Our review will give you a breakdown of all that is covered in Physicians Mutual’s dental insurance policy, including their plans and rates.
About Physicians Mutual
Physicians Mutual was founded over 100 years ago as a mutual insurance company and is made up of Physicians Mutual Insurance Company and Physicians Life Insurance Company.
Dental insurance is one of the several insurance products the company currently offers across the US. Physicians Mutual is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska.
Availability
Physicians’s Mutual dental coverage is available in all states, including Washington, DC.
Also check our review of » AAA Dental Insurance For Massachusetts and Rhode Island
What Physicians Mutual Dental insurance covers
The company pays for over 400 dental care services. Below are the dental coverages you can get from their dental policy:
Preventive care
Coverage for preventive care services starts immediately upon enrollment and pays 100% of the cost when you select an in-network dentist. Physicians Mutual dental insurance covers more than 40 preventive dental care services. A few are listed below:
- Cleanings
- Dental X-rays
- Routine and comprehensive exams
- Professional dental cleanings
Basic Restorative Procedures
Like preventive care, basic restorative procedures also begin instantly upon enrollment and cover the cost of over 130 basic dental services. This includes:
- Fillings for cavities
- Simple tooth extractions
- Minor oral surgery procedures and sedation
- Repair or replacement of denture clasp
- And more
Major Restorative Procedures
Unlike the other two dental procedures, major restorative dentistry has a waiting period of 12 months. This means you won’t get covered upon enrollment until after the 12-month duration.
It pays for 270 major services, which include:
- Root canals and crowns
- Artificial teeth used in bridges
- Partial and full dentures
- Surgical tooth extractions
- Adding a tooth to an existing partial denture
Also check out the Altus Dental Insurance Review
Available plans
All four plans cover the same dental care treatments, but there is a limit on how much each plan pays you for each dental procedure. This is how much each plan costs and how much they pay, including their deductible.
Economy plan
This is the base plan. This budget-friendly plan pays the least for basic and major treatments. You will get reimbursed up to 25% of the total cost of your treatment for basic and major procedures like fillings, crowns, and dentures. However, you won’t be charged for preventive care services under this plan.
The economy plan costs $59.50 per month.
Standard plan
This plan is ideal if you aren’t aiming to spend more on your dental health in the future. You save more on this plan while getting benefits and discounts. This plan will pay you 40% of the total cost for basic and major care services, with no charge for preventive care.
The Standard plan is billed at $75.55 monthly.
Preferred plan
For more coverage and benefits, this plan is the go-to option. You get paid up to 55% for major and basic care services, including a 100% payment for preventive care. Rates for the Preferred plan begin at $91.55 every month.
Premier plan
The Premier plan gives you the most extensive and robust coverage, including the highest benefits and discounts. You will be covered up to 70% of all costs of major and preventive procedures. The plan begins at $110.20 each month.
It should be noted that only in-network providers are covered by the above-fixed amount that Physicians Mutual must pay for each plan. If you decide to use a dentist outside, you could incur more costs.
Here is how much you could be charged for having two cavities filled at a regular checkup on each plan:
| Plans | Premier | Preferred | Standard | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg. charge | $578 | $578 | $578 | $578 |
| Deductible | $66 | $122 | $152 | $182 |
| In-network savings | $208 | $208 | $208 | $208 |
| Benefits and discounts | $302 | $248 | $218 | $188 |
Physicians Mutual dental insurance for seniors
Oral health is very important for seniors, and for those on fixed retirement benefits, unexpected dental issues could pose a huge problem. Hence, getting the right dental policy in place could be of great aid in distressing times.
Physicians Mutual dental insurance also covers seniors and pays for over 400 procedures, including fillings, crowns, and dentures. This also gives you the freedom to choose any dentist of your choice.
All procedures, like preventive and basic, are instant except for major care, which has a 12-month waiting period.
ELIGIBILITY
Your acceptance is certain if you are over 18, regardless of your current dental status.
Discounts
All Physicians Mutual dental insurance plans come with different benefits and discounts. Here is the average amount of discounts and benefits you can save on their dental insurance if you need a major treatment like a root canal, which is billed at $3,105 on all plans.
- Economy: You save up to $604
- Standard: You save up to $889
- Preferred: You save up to $1,174
- Premier: You save up to $1,435
Also check out The Standard Dental Insurance
Ratings and reviews
Physicians Mutual Insurance Company has a BBB rating of A+ and an AM Best A (Excellent) financial strength rating, which shows the company is trustworthy with a solid record of minimal complaints.
But also on these websites, some users have complained of poor claim handling from Physicians Mutual.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- No deductible on preventive care procedures
- 36% discount when you use an in-network dentist
- Network of over 500,000 provider locations
Cons
- Rates are somewhat high
- Poor claims processes were reported by some policyholders
How to enroll in a dental policy with Physicians Mutual
You can purchase a policy online with Physicians Mutual or get started by calling a customer representative.
- To enroll online, visit their website.
- Choose your plan type (individual, one-parent, or all-family), and then the state you live in.
- Now select the dental plan that would fit your budget and coverage needs.
- You can also choose to add Vision and Hearing Rider coverage to your dental coverage. Note that this will cause you to pay $17 more.
- After this, you can proceed by filling in the other necessary information that’s required to complete your policy.
You can also call their customer service at 1-800-469-8138 if you need help.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)
Is Physicians Mutual dental insurance any good?
Physicians Mutual, founded in 1902, which is over 100 years now, is rated A+ on the Better Business Bureau and A (excellent) on AM Best.
The record shows the company is good at providing essential services and also meets claim demands from policyholders.
They also feature one of the largest networks of dentists in the United States, with over 500,000 provider locations.
Does Physicians Mutual dental insurance cover implants?
Implants are typically not covered under the Physicians Mutual dental policy. However, you could still be eligible for the procedure based on your situation. You can speak with a representative for more information on this.
How to file a claim with Physicians Mutual
- Simply visit their website online and navigate to the claims page.
- You will be required to log in to your account to access it; do that if you’ve not.
- After logging in, provide the necessary information required, and a claims representative will get in touch with you afterward.
Will I get covered for a pre-existing condition?
No. Like most dental providers, Physicians Mutual will not cover you against any pre-existing dental condition you must have had before enrolling in the policy.
