Dental Hygienist:

A dental hygienist is one of the professions that is highly paid in the united states with a gross salary of 62,430 per year, this salary is the mean wage rate for the profession provided by the united state bureau of statistics, every other employee is required to pay taxes and gross salary minus the taxes give you net salary, the taxes we consider in this profession include social security and Medicare taxes, state taxes and federal taxes.

In our calculation of the net salary we will consider the federal taxes, state taxes and Medicare and social security taxes, we assume that the employee works in Arizona State and therefore his state tax will be with reference to the Arizona tax rate. For this reason this paper will first consider the calculation of individuals taxes using the gross salary and therefore we must consider the gross salary first and then search for appropriate sources of the tax rates that are required in the calculation of the net salary.

Gross salary:

The mean gross salary of a dental hygienist is 62,430 per year, this according to the united state bureau of statistics because taxes are paid every month we will have to determine the mean salary per month and this will be obtained by dividing the annual mean salary by the number of months per year which is 12,

Monthly gross salary = annual gross salary / 12 month

= 62,430/12

= 5202.5

Medicare and social security taxes:

Given the monthly gross salary we are in a position to calculate the Medicare and social security taxes, this tax level is obtained by multiplying the gross profit by the tax rate which gives us the tax level.

Tax = gross salary X tax rate

The social security tax is 6.2% and the Medicare taxes is 1.45%  we therefore consider each tax separately and this will be as follows:

Social security tax:

6.2% X 5202.5 = 322.555

Medicare taxes:

1.45% X 5202.5 = 75.43625

State tax:

State tax is also deducted from the gross salary in order to get the net salary that a dental hygienist should receive, the state tax for the Arizona state lies between 2.59% and 4.54%, for this reason therefore we get the mean rate of the Arizona rates, these rates were retrieved the mean rate will be achieved by adding up the two rates and then dividing the sum by two, this will be as follows:

2.59% + 4.54% = 7.13%

7.13% /2 = 3.565%

For this reason therefore we will consider the state tax as 3.565% which the mean rate of tax in Arizona. Given the rate of tax as 3.565% we can find the tax level of a dental hygienist in Arizona and this will be given by multiplying the gross monthly salary by the tax rate, therefore our tax level will be achieved as follows:

5202.5 X 3.565% = 185.4691

Therefore our state tax per month is 185.4691.

Federal tax:

The federal taxes are determined using a tax table, our tax table was retrieved  and the table below shows the tax level at each salary range in the country:

If  income is  over

But not over

The tax rate is

0

7825

10% of the amount over

7825

31850

782.50 plus 15% of the amount over 7,825

31850

77100

4,386.25 plus 25% of the amount over 31,850

77100

160850

15,698.75 plus 28% of the amount over 77,100

160850

349700

39,148.75 plus 33% of the amount over 160,850

349700

to infinity

101,469.25 plus 35% of the amount over 349,700

The table above was retrieved  this therefore means that our salary lies between 0 and 7825 dollars and for thi9s reason we assume that the employee is single and not married because the table above depicts tax rate for single persons in the country, given that the tax rate is 10% then we can find the federal tax which is calculated by multiplying the income level by the tax rate:

5202.5 X 10% = 520.25

Therefore our federal tax level is equal to 520.25.

Net salary:

Having determined the tax that is included in calculating the net salary we can now determine the net salary, the net salary is achieved by subtracting the all taxes from the gross salary, in our case therefore the following will be our calculations:

Net salary = gross salary – (Medicare tax + social security tax + federal taxes + state tax)

This can therefore be simplified in the table below:

tax type

amount

federal

520.25

state

185.4691

Medicare

75.43625

social security

322.555

total tax

1103.71035

We can therefore clearly state that the total tax is 1103.71 which includes all the taxes considered in the table above, our net salary will therefore be as follows:

gross salary

5202.5

minus

tax

1103.71035

net salary

4098.78965

Our net salary in the dental hygiene profession for an average employee is 4098 dollars; this has been obtained by calculating total taxes and then subtracting from the gross salary.

Assumptions of this calculation are that the dental hygienist salary is 62,430 per annum and therefore to get the salary per month is given by dividing this amount by 12 months. The other assumption made during calculation is that the person in question who is a dental hygienist is a single person and not married, the other assumption made is that the taxes rates given are monthly tax rates and finally the assumptions is that only federal taxes, state taxes and Medicare and social security taxes are relevant in the calculation of net salary, this assumption also states that there are no tax refunds or compensations such as transport allowances and house allowances provided to the dentists.

References:

State taxes (2008) Arizona state tax, retrieved on 14th February,

Social security and Medicare taxes (2008) social security taxes and Medicare taxes, retrieved on 14th February

BLS statistics government (2008) dental hygienist, retrieved on 14th February

IRS (2008) federal taxes, retrieved on 14th February

            Many families in the United States do not have any type of dental coverage, and the recent healthcare bill does not include any real guide lines regarding dental plans.  We all still need to get our teeth fixed, but nothing has changed in several years regarding dental plans.  When you or your family need to see a dentist, shopping around for a new plan is a good idea; but it can be very overwhelming if you don’t know what you’re looking for.  Depending on how much dental work you need and how soon you need it, there are 3 major types of plans to consider.

            The first is a regular dental insurance plan provided by a major company like Delta Dental.  These insurance plans are the most expensive on a monthly basis but they require the least amount of money out of pocket at the dental office.  They also have a waiting period, usually consisting of several months, that you need to wait before you can have any work done.  If you need dental tomorrow this is not the right plan for you, but if you need a lot of work done this can be the cheapest in the long run.  It is also important to note that these plans usually have a limit on how much they will pay out in a calendar year.  Traditional insurance is usually the best bet if you can afford it, and you plan far enough ahead to let the waiting period expire; otherwise one of the other two types of plans may be a better fit for you and your family.

            The second option is very much like traditional insurance but its offered by the dentist or dental chain you are seeing for your work.  These plans aren’t quite as expensive on a monthly basis, but you have to pay more at the dentist office when you have your work done.  You can only see the dentist you have the plan through, or one of their affiliated offices if its a dental chain like perfect teeth.  The limit on how much work you can have done is a little bit higher than with regular insurance because the dentist would like you to keep coming in.  This middle of the road plan is a good arrangement for most people, but it limits your ability to change dentists and specialists aren’t usually covered; so if you need some type of oral surgery be prepared to pay full price.  Some plans have a small waiting period and some don’t, but that is one of the many things to consider when you purchase one of these plans directly from the dentist.

            The third type of dental plan is a discount fee for service plan like Ameriplan, and they have become very popular over the last decade as more and more employers drop coverage for their employees.  These plans cost the least on a monthly basis, but the most out of pocket for each procedure at the dentist office.  There are no limits on how often you see the dentist or how much dental work you have done, and there is no paperwork or contracts to fill out.  If you need to see the dentist as soon as possible, this is the best way to go because there are no waiting periods either. 

            Dealing with health and dental plans can be a huge headache; but with a little information you can make a difficult decision much easier.  Delta Dental, Ameriplan and chain dentists are all good options if you know exactly what you are looking for.  Regular insurance is great if you need lots of dental work but don’t mind waiting.  Discount plans are great if you need dental right away, and chain insurance is great if you already have a dentist that offers it.  You can’t put off dental work forever but that doesn’t mean you have to pay too much for it!

Four Steps to Help You Get the Most from Your Health insurance Coverage Finding, buying, and understanding health insurance coverage options aren’t always easy tasks. Here are some easy tips to follow on how to start your journey through all of the online healthcare madness.

Step One – Make a list of your current health conditions, medications, and any other current health related issues. You’ll also want to make a note of your primary concerns and questions about choosing adequate health insurance.

Step Two – Get information from several health insurance providers. Not all health care plans are the same. It’s well worth the time and effort to review more than once health insurance policy. It can save you time, money, and improve the quality of your healthcare in the future.

Some of the big names in Health insurance may be a great place to start your comparisons such as: Golden Rule Insurance, Celtic Insurance, American Medical Security Insurance, Time Insurance, UNICARE Insurance, Humana Insurance and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Insurance just to name a few.

Those of you looking for Michigan Medicaid and Medicare help must first meet the requirements for qualifications. Each county may have different requirements such as income and more. Check with your local health department for more information.

Step Three – Review each health insurance plan making notes of benefits provided for these basic coverage sections: physical exams, specialists’ care, hospitalization, prescription drugs, dental care, vision care, emergency care Ob-Gyn care, preventative care, and alternative care coverage. Remember to evaluate using the notes you made in step one.

Pay careful attention to co-pays, spending limits, and deductible amounts in each section for each health insurance plan you’re reviewing. The goal is to do what’s called “comparison shopping.” As you go through this process, most likely one or two health care policies will seem to meet your needs better than the others.

Step Four – Once you’ve picked out two or three possible health insurance plans, make notes of questions and concerns about each. Now it’s time to get your questions answered and make your decision.

It’s important to make sure you’re speaking with a qualified, licensed health insurance agent. Don’t hesitate to continue to ask questions until you feel you have all the information you need to make a good choice.

Other Helpful Information

Compare Health insurance Plans Online and Save Time

Take your time to find what you need at a price you can afford. What is great about looking for Health insurance options online is you can compare plans and benefits first on your own, without talking to different representatives. Most Health insurance companies offer FREE online services and FREE online instant rate quotes. All that is required is for you to quickly fill out a secured application. In the matter of minutes you should have your results in front of you. Just in case you have questions these companies have licensed Health insurance professionals waiting for your call.

Keep it Going! Who Can Benefit From Temporary Health insurance?

Temporary health insurance or short-term medical insurance is also available in Michigan and will allow you to have coverage for a temporary amount of time. This type of insurance isn’t right for everyone. Inquiries of this form of health care usually comes from those who are between jobs, seasonal employees, laid-off and can even benefit young adults recently coming off of their parents’ health plan. Plans tend to last somewhere between six months but some have been known to go twelve months.

Temporary Health insurance forms are much more simple than permanent insurance. Coverage on a short-term plan can begin as quickly as twenty-four hours. This insurance caters to unseen accidents and illness. Because it is temporary, they do not typically cover preventive care, vision, dental or pre-existing conditions. For pre-existing conditions you may want to check your COBRA benefits. There Are Other Ways to Keep Your Health insurance after Losing Your Job

Don’t let recent un-employment keep you from the care that you need! For instance if a loved one is expecting, the last thing you want is to lose your maternity insurance. There is another alternative called consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act or COBRA. This type of insurance normally last longer than temporary or short-term insurance but it is still a type of temporary insurance. Normally COBRA policies can last for approximately eighteen months. For more detailed information on COBRA’s extended policy plans talk to your employer about their specific Health insurance carrier’s plan. Many people don’t know about temporary Health insurance coverage. In fact, people take chances between coverage all the time because of lack of knowledge. The advantage of temporary Health insurance coverage is to fill a gap in coverage. Although this is temporary coverage is great to have, it does not replace permanent coverage. Michigan HIPAA Laws and How They Could Effect You

If you currently have pre-existing conditions and are looking into short-term Health insurance coverage WAIT! You may be buying health coverage that will not cover you and then make you ineligible for the care that you need. HIPAA stands for Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. HIPAA plans are mainly for those who have pre-existing conditions and may have trouble getting health insurance. These plans can be extremely expensive. The HIPAA Federal law gives a person immediate access to comparable coverage when leaving employment that provided coverage.

Get familiar with your rights and consult your benefits advisor to discuss the best options for you. You can take back your health with Health insurance companies where there is a plan to fit everyone’s need. Reading up and doing your homework on plans that pertain to your needs can help eliminate useless information and help you find the right Health insurance plan much faster.

Lack of dental care can cause many problems.  Besides painful teeth and gums, little or no dental care can cause heart disease, stomach problems and a myriad of other problems.  So it is not just a pretty smile that is at stake when it comes to lacking dental care. Unfortunately, dental care is not like other types of care in the United States.  Even if there is a true emergency, if it involves the teeth or the gums, a person will not and cannot be seen, unless they can pay up front for the care.  The person could be turned away, even if they have an abscessed tooth, which is a very painful infection, which can travel to the heart and be potentially deadly.  

There are some clinics where people have low or no income and they can receive low cost or free dental care, but these places are few and far between and they are definitely not widely advertised. These clinics can only handle some types of dental problems, so if the problem involves major oral surgery, a patient may only be able to get some of the care they need.  There is always the option of using insurance, but most insurance companies have lacking dental benefits, that can still leave you with large bills.  If you are on Medicaid or Medicare, you may be out of luck, since many dentists simply refuse to take it, and these plans only pay 30% of the bill.  If you are in need of dental care, and are low on funds, a clinic that provides low cost or free dental care might be a good place for you to look into.  Just be sure to go in before you have a problem, if that is an option for you.  It is better to maintain a healthy smile, that to try to get one back.

Looking for an individual dental plan? Want to find an inexpensive plan with a top-rated company? Here’s how to do it …

Individual Dental Plan

Dental plans, also called discount dental plans, are an attractive alternative to traditional dental insurance. Why? Because the premiums are cheaper, there are no health restrictions, and there are no paperwork hassles.

The fee for an individual dental plan is as low as .95 a year. This gives you access to a network of dentist and dental specialists in your area who’ll give you a 10% to 60% discount on all your dental procedures. And there are no pre-existing conditions or waiting periods, so you can sign up today and see a participating dentist tomorrow.

Dental Insurance vs. Dental Plans

Some of the drawbacks with dental insurance include:

* Limitations, deductibles, and yearly maximum limits.

* Waiting periods of 3 to 12 months before you can see a dentist.

* Health restrictions and exclusions for pre-existing conditions.

* Certain procedures like cosmetic dentistry may not be covered.

Discount dental plans, on the other hand, have none of these drawbacks. With an individual dental plan:

* There are no limitations, deductibles, or yearly maximums.

* You can see a dentist within 1 to 3 days.

* There are no exclusions for health reasons or pre-existing conditions.

* Most plans cover cosmetic procedures like teeth whitening and veneers.

Where to Get the Best Price

The best way to get the best price on an individual dental plan is to go to a dental plan comparison website where you can view dental plan fees and discounts. After you decide which plan best suits your needs you can sign up online or call a toll-free telephone number to do it. If you have any questions, the better sites have a toll-free service where you can get answers. (See link below.)

Visit http://www.LowerRateQuotes.com/dental-plans.html or click on the following link to get individual dental plan fees and discounts from top-rated companies and see how much you can save. You can get more dental plan tips in their Articles section.

There is no doubt that each of us needs dental care, that’s why we are making effort in hunting the best dental plan or deals out there. The teeth is a big contributor to our overall health, if we leave it uncared for due to reasons of costs then you are at the loosing end. We can have the best health insurance plan but without our pearly teeth in tip top condition our general health will fail as well.

If dental cost is you concern, not many of us know that there are actually several means to pay for our dental care services. This where I want to come in, I want to introduce to you the options that you have to consider. Read below.

Traditional Dental Insurance

This type of plan is very similar to any health insurance plans. You will be paying your weekly and monthly premium then you get 80-100% of the overall dental cost covered. Traditional dental insurance plan can be acquired through your employer or direct to an insurance agent. However, the only difference is that when you get a dental plan straight to the insurance agent and not through your employer, you will be paying higher premium since it is your employer who subsidizes part of the cost.

Voluntary Group Plans

If your company does not yet offer dental insurance plan but you and your co-workers want to have one, here’s what you can do. You can ask your employer to arrange for a group dental insurance plan. This type of plan will let you and your co-workers pay for your own dental plan premiums. This way your group can avail of a huge premium discount with better benefits. Remember there is strength in numbers!

Dental Reimbursement Plans

Dental reimbursement plan cannot be considered as insurance but rather, this is an agreement between an employer and employee. It works when you pay for your own dental care services and forward the receipt to your employer and they will reimburse your expenses within a specified amount. With this, both you and your employer will never again worry about paying dental plan premiums every month. Plus, you can have your own choice of dentist! So if you do like the idea, all you need to do is ask your employer, now!

Dental Discount Plans

From the word itself, dental discount plans will let you pay for your dental care services at discounted price. Moreover, this type of plan will sometimes require you to pay for an enrollment fee to your provider and you will be restricted to the dentists in your locale that admit dental insurance plan holder.

Whatever is your choice, it is important that you understand the facts about your chosen plan and make sure it suits well to your needs. There is no more reason for you to delay dental care, remember that we are required to have a dental check twice a year. Cavities and decay will not be apparent until it’s too late. The procedure to correct this will cost you much and it really makes more sense to act now.

All dental plans charge a membership fee, with the amount varying from one plan to the other. Dental plans are offered to either individuals or to the whole family, with family dental plans usually offering bigger discounts than individual dental plans. You should compare the rates charged under the different plans before selecting the most appropriate one for you.

It is important also to know the type of dental services covered by your dental plan. Routine dental check ups and dental treatments such as oral examination, teeth cleaning, fluoride treatment, teeth filling and teeth extraction are generally covered by most dental plans. However, dental plans do not always cover major dental care treatments such as oral surgery, dental implants, restorative care, braces, root canal treatments etc. In case of such costly dental procedures you unfortunately have to foot the bill yourself. Often there are a number of alternative treatments available for certain dental problems. Under such circumstances dental plans allow reimbursement for the cost of the basic dental treatment, and further costs in excess of the basic treatment cost has to be covered by the patient.

Dental health plans may or may not allow you to choose your own dentist, but it is common practice for patients to generally receive dental care from dentists mentioned in the plan. Before choosing a plan make sure that the participating dentists practice in your area. Choose a plan that is accepted nationwide and not restricted to your state. Check whether you are allowed to visit the dentist unscheduled, or at scheduled hours only.

You also need to decide whether you want an annual plan or a monthly plan. Annual dental plans are more cost beneficial than monthly plans. So get regular check ups with your dentist to reap the maximum benefits out of your dental plan.