Brighter.com – The Dental Insurance Alternative

I recently got the opportunity to check out a service called Brighter.com. I wanted to share my experience with you and encourage you to explore it for yourself.  If you’re in the Los Angeles area – pay attention! Brighter.com is the simple, free alternative to dental insurance that has made price transparency and the need for more affordable dental care a mission and passion.

I recently learned that about 47% of Angelenos don’t have dental insurance. For the last year or so, I’ve been one of them. Pursuing dental care on my own caused such a headache that I never put much effort into it when I was between jobs. Not knowing how much things cost really bothers me and creates more anxiety than I care to deal with.

I wasn’t sure how Brighter.com would work but it was ridiculously easy. I popped in my office zip code (to find something close to work), looked at the list of dentists – AND THEIR PRICES – and booked an appointment. I did this in five minutes. No joke.  Then I went back for fun and looked at other zip codes and options.

Brighter.com is currently partnered with over 500 dentists here in LA county. They’ve worked out pre-negotiated prices that are clearly marked on the website. The benefits are two-fold. First, there’s transparency right off the bat – no sticker shock. Second, you save an average of 50% off any procedure.  I booked a simple exam – which included x-rays and a cleaning – but Brighter.com also covers restorative work and cosmetic procedures.

And the bonus?  The dentist I saw yesterday was great, which made the whole experience from start to finish as painless as going to the dentist can possibly be. I will definitely be booking through Brighter.com for all the crazy work I need to get done.

People without dental coverage are less likely to get needed care. 17% of Angelenos have been to the dentist only once – or not at all – in the past 10 years. We all know how much worse dental problems get when we don’t get them taken care of ASAP.

Full disclosure: I was asked to write about and review Brighter.com and the cost of the appointment I had yesterday was covered. But I've written bad reviews of dentists before and I wouldn't hold back if I had a complaint. Brighter couldn't have been easier to use and it is really nice when something just works and gives you the information you want.

If you or someone you know is here in the Los Angeles area and not covered by dental insurance, check out Brighter.com ASAP.  Feel free to leave a comment below or contact me if you have any questions about. As someone who has been without insurance, I really wish I knew about this sooner. Spread the word!