DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT DENTAL INSURANCE? Here’s some information that will help you get the most out of your plan.
How Dental Insurance Differs From Medical Insurance
Regular medical insurance is designed to help with major, expensive illnesses and provides minimal help with preventative care. Dental insurance usually works the opposite way. It typically covers a large percentage of preventive care (such as your regularly scheduled checkups and cleanings).
You get the most out of your dental insurance when you take preventive measures. It’s also what’s best for your smile, of course!
Barbara Answers Some Commonly Asked Questions…
Insurance is a complex subject, so major props to Barbara, who takes care of it here in our office. We invited her to answer some questions that we knew you’d find helpful.
We Work With Many Different Insurance Companies
The most common insurance companies we participate with are Metlife, Aetna, Guardian, Cigna, DentaQuest Choice, and there are many more but they must be PPO plans. You can call our office and we can help you in figuring out if we participate with your plan. For patients that are out of network as long as their insurance is a PPO they may still have benefits provided. We also offer the option to apply for CareCredit which allows them to pay for treatment over the course of a year at 0% interest. To expedite the processing of insurance claims we submit them electronically, along with any supporting paperwork. We are usually able to get a response within two weeks.
We Accept PPO’s
Patients should be aware when signing up for insurance that we accept only PPO’s. When choosing a plan you want to make sure you have a high enough maximum to cover the treatment that may be needed. If there is a high option plan available we recommend going with those. Waiting periods in a dental plan may also cause an issue; for example if you know you need to have a major procedure done right away the plan may require you to wait for a specific amount of time before they allow coverage for it. Missing Tooth Clauses can also create a major problem for patients. Patients trying to replace teeth that have been missing prior to getting their new insurance will not be allowed coverage for that treatment if a Missing Tooth Clause is present. Patients wanting orthodontic coverage must make sure they fall within the insurance eligibility parameters. There are usually age limitations and patients need to be aware of those.
Let Us Know If You Have Other Questions
We’re here to help. If you’re considering an insurance policy, you can come to us with questions. And if you’re wondering how you can best put your existing insurance policy to work, talk to us!
