While you may not associate braces with travel, there is in fact a way you can save thousands of dollars on braces for your kiddos (which can be quite expensive!) AND earn Southwest points that you can use to book free flights.
Win, win!
I have a son getting braces this fall, so I’m ALL ABOUT saving as much as possible, and if I can earn Southwest points at the same time, I’m in!
Plus, many families have been hit hard financially by the pandemic and may be putting off needed dental treatments as a result. This is a way to pay LESS for dental expenses while investing in future travel.
The way to accomplish this is through a company called DentalPlans.com, which offers dental savings plans that can save families up to thousands of dollars on braces. DentalPlans.com is an option in Southwest’s Rapid Rewards Shopping Portal.
While the portal lets you earn various number of points from many different clothing, home goods, electronics and other retailers, it also offers a set amount of points when you purchase various subscriptions and plans, such as a dental savings plan (which works like a Costco membership – join once a year and save all year long on virtually all dental procedures, including braces AND all the extra check-ups and cleanings that go along with it).
By starting your online shopping through the portal, you can earn 1,800 Southwest points when you purchase any dental savings plan from DentalPlans.com. And these points ALSO qualify for the Southwest Companion Pass!
This is a sponsored post but all views and opinions are my own.
How a Dental Savings Plan Works
DentalPlans.com offers close to 30 different dental savings plans that offer significant discounts (we’re talking $750 to $1,875 savings per child!) on braces, and most plans cost less than $200 for an entire family!
This means the plan MORE THAN pays for itself and is a fabulous way to help greatly reduce the cost of braces.
These plans, which are an affordable alternative to traditional dental insurance, ALSO offer discounts on other dental procedures besides braces, like cleanings and check-ups, fillings, emergency dental care (like a chipped tooth — got boys, anyone? ;-)) and so much more.
When you purchase a plan through DentalPlans.com, you need to ensure that your dentist accepts the plan. If your dentist doesn’t, the company can help you find a new dentist who does from their network of more than 140,000 dentists nationwide. It’s always a good idea to check reviews, too!
You can search the DentalPlans.com Dentist Directory to find a dentist in your area – you’ll see a Dentist Search tab on the top right of the menu bar. Just enter your zip code, select a dentist and then view their list of fees – you can scroll down to braces or whichever procedures you’re looking for – to compare plans.
Note that the prices listed are the “usual fee,” not the specific fee charged by your dentist. You’ll want to be sure you contact the dentist to confirm the exact fee and what the discount will be. DentalPlans.com can also help you with this!
Once you purchase a plan…
The participating dentist will simply adjust the cost of the braces (normally between $3,000-$7,500) or other dental treatment when you show them your plan membership card. And you pay the discounted rate directly to your dentist. Easy!
Do I Need This If I Already Have Dental Insurance?
It can definitely still help! Dental savings plans can reduce the cost of braces after you reach your insurance’s yearly maximum or lifetime cap.
How Much Does It Cost?
You have two options: either an individual membership or a family membership, which includes EVERYONE in your household.
Pricing per plan varies, but is usually within the below ranges:
- Annual Individual Membership – $125-$155 + $20 processing fee
- Annual Family Membership – $180-$199 + $20 processing fee
With the family membership only slightly more costly, it’s worth it to receive savings for the WHOLE family’s dental treatments, even if only one family member is getting braces.
Want to Save 25% on Your Membership?
DentalPlans.com has granted readers of Go to Travel Gal a special discount! Start at THIS LINK to learn more, compare plans and find a dentist. Then use code TRAVEL25OFF at check-out to save 25% on whichever dental savings plan you choose.
Note: You cannot use a promo code, unfortunately, AND earn Southwest points. If you prefer to earn Southwest points instead of saving the 25%, follow the below instructions.
How to Earn 1,800 Southwest Points When You Purchase a Membership
Southwest is currently offering 1,800 points when you sign up for a dental savings plan through DentalPlans.com by starting your purchase in the Southwest Rapid Rewards Shopping Portal.
Here’s how to earn the points:
1. Simply go to https://rapidrewardsshopping.southwest.com/ and log in using your Southwest Rapid Rewards account information
2. Search for “DentalPlans.com” in the portal and select it
3. Next, click the Shop Now button, which brings you to the DentalPlans.com homepage (this registers your “cookies” with Southwest, which means you will get the points after you purchase through THIS LINK)
4. IMPORTANT! Come back here and follow THIS LINK to ensure you are accessing the correct link to the dental savings plans with the best discounts for braces. As long as you first click through the Portal, you will earn your Southwest points after you purchase at the link above. If you don’t follow these steps, you won’t earn your points.
Additionally, you do need to be a NEW DentalPlans.com plan member to qualify to earn your Southwest points. If you’ve purchased a plan previously, go ahead and use the 25% discount promo code we shared above to save MORE, since you won’t be able to collect the points anyway.
Here’s to free travel AND saving on costly braces!
