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No dental insurance? You’re not alone. Roughly 1 in 4 Americans, and about half of all older adults, don’t have dental coverage, according to industry figures.

Researchers have shown that costs are a bigger obstacle to dental care in the U.S. than all other forms of healthcare.

Employers are by far the biggest provider of dental insurance benefits in the U.S., accounting for nearly half of all enrollees, followed by the government’s Medicaid plan for low-income people.

Dental discount plans are a lesser-known option, used by just 5 percent of patients with private dental benefits, according to the latest survey figures from the National Association of Dental Plans.

Here’s a look at how discount plans work and when they can make sense.

Different from insurance

The plans aren’t insurance. Instead, they function like warehouse clubs, giving members access to discounted prices on various dental procedures, ranging from 20 to 60 percent. Discount plans are offered by a number of large health coverage providers, including Aetna, Humana and CVS Health.

The networks of dentists who participate can be smaller than insurance networks, limiting patient choice. And they won’t cover the complete cost of preventive cleanings and X-rays the way most insurance plans do.

Still, discount plans can be a good option for patients who might otherwise skip check-ups altogether, said Dr. Dave Preble, senior vice president of the American Dental Association’s Practice Institute.

If you get patients to a dentist “and keep them coming back on a regular basis, it’s been proven to keep them healthier,” Preble said.

Likely customers

Older Americans make up a large share of the market for discount dental plans. About 40 percent of enrollees in the plans are between 56 and 75, according to the Consumer Health Alliance, an industry group.

In part, that’s because Medicare does not cover dental health. Older adults can purchase supplemental dental coverage or access care through privately run Medicare Advantage plans, but many don’t, due to the extra expense.

Finally, discount plans can provide a cheaper option for those who can’t afford monthly premiums of employer-based insurance.

How costs, coverage compare

Most discount plans range from $200 to $400 in fees for a family, offering potential savings for those on a tight budget.

In comparison, annual fees for a typical family dental insurance plan in 2017 were nearly $600, according to industry statistics, not including copays and coinsurance.

But it’s important to remember discount plans merely give access to savings on exams, fillings and other procedures. Discount plan enrollees can wind up paying considerably more out-of-pocket than they would with dental insurance.

Discount plans can also make sense for patients who have maxed out their insurance benefits.

Many employer-sponsored plans cap annual care at $1,500 per person. High-cost procedures like root canals, crowns or dental implants can sometimes exceed that limit. Enrolling in a discount plan could be a way to save on those uncovered expenses.

Plus, there’s no limit on the number of procedures you can get in a year with a discount plan. Some insurance plans impose waiting periods after enrollment, or annual limits on how often patients can get expensive procedures.

“If you need something done right away and it’s a major procedure, you’re going to get that discount immediately [with a discount plan],” said Evelyn Ireland, executive director of the National Association of Dental Plans.

Finally, most insurance doesn’t cover cosmetic dentistry, such as teeth whitening or bonding. In many cases, discount plans can be applied to those.

—AP