Consumer driven dental plans include Health Savings Accounts and Health Reimbursement Arrangements. These plans are supplemental to a high deductible health insurance plan. Funding under these types of plans comes from employer and pre-tax employee contributions.

Dental services are purchased using plan funds which pay for monthly premiums, deductibles, co-insurance and prescription drugs. These types of plans are portable and are similar to an IRA with penalties for early withdrawal, and for using funds for payment of non-healthcare related services.

Another type of Consumer Driven product is a Flexible Savings Account (FSA) which most large employers offer to employees. These accounts are funded with monthly pre-tax employee contributions. Funds can be used for payment of a wide variety of health care costs not covered by insurance. The difference between the FSA and other consumer driven plans is that the employee must use the funds prior to a 15 month period (each yearly cycle). Otherwise, monies left in the account are retained by the employer.