Your Dental Crown Costs $800. Does Your Insurance Cover It? (Probably Not)
You need a dental crown. Your dentist tells you: $800. You think of your insurance. You call. And the answer frustrates you — but doesn't surprise you.
| ASSA Basic $100/mo | ASSA Premium $250/mo | PassportCard Comfort $200/mo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Covers dental? | NO | Partial | YES — fully |
| Your $800 crown | $800 out of pocket | $200–500 copay | $0 (red card) |
| Dentist choice | N/A | ASSA network only | ANY dentist |
| Annual cleaning | Not covered | Covered | Covered |
| Annual insurance cost | $1,200 | $3,000 | $2,400 |
The Math That Changes Everything
A single $800 dental crown nearly covers the ENTIRE price difference between ASSA Basic and PassportCard Comfort for a FULL YEAR.
ASSA Basic: $1,200/yr + $800 crown = $2,000
PassportCard Comfort: $2,400/yr + $0 crown = $2,400
Real difference: just $400/year. And with PassportCard you also get: free doctor choice, USA coverage, psychotherapy, and direct card payment.
It's Not Just the Crown
Common dental costs in Panama:
- Professional cleaning: $60–100
- Filling: $80–150
- Crown: $600–1,000
- Root canal: $300–600
- Dental implant: $1,200–2,500
- Braces: $2,000–4,000
If you need a crown AND a cleaning in a year, you've already exceeded the price difference. If you need an implant, the difference pays for itself in a SINGLE VISIT.
The Dentist YOU Choose
With ASSA Premium (which does cover dental partially), you're limited to dentists in the ASSA network. With PassportCard Comfort, you go to whatever dentist YOU choose. The best in Panama if you want. No restrictions.
What About SafetyWing?
SafetyWing Remote Health ($206/mo) includes basic dental. It's an option if your budget is tighter, but it works on reimbursement — you pay out of pocket and wait for the money back.