It’s like taking your car in for a scheduled service in that you dread the phone call if they find anything to fix. But isn’t that better than being stuck on the side of the road in the pouring rain with a broken car? Or worse, in an accident caused by a mechanical failure? The cost of a service is often $150 to $200 including an oil change which you would typically do a couple times a year anyway compared with an unplanned break down and repair. The only thing that dulls the edge of that kind of inconvenience is Automobile Association coverage that ensures a safe, friendly and knowledgeable mechanic will come to help you…you may wait awhile though depending on the time of day, weather and location.

The reason I bring this up is because some dental surgery I’ve had was no fun and not covered by insurance. The initial consult was but not the subsequent surgery. Go figure…the theory was that one particular area needed some attention now in order to avoid exposing bone to potential erosion and a much more costly repair in the future. Having the work done now versus more expensive and invasive work later seems like a wise decision to me which is why we ‘invested’ in my teeth. 

How do you and your family make these decisions? Insurance companies base their decisions and premiums on risk factors and the likelihood of occurrence.

I suppose it’s a bit like the value of planning. I don’t believe that planning for something that could be perceived as negative (i.e. contingency or emergency planning) will make it come true but I do believe that planning for something positive leads to a greater likelihood of it coming true. Practically, if you have a plan and take action, you will achieve part, most or all of your goal.