Dental Coverage Explained
Basic Dental Insurance Coverage - What is Included? Understanding what is covered by your dental insurance can be challenging. Coverage differs from policy to policy, from plan to plan, and from provider to provider. In order to find out what your own dental insurance covers, you need to read the fine print of your policy or agreement. In general, basic dental insurance coverage includes three categories:
1. Preventive and Diagnostic Dental Care
Almost all dental plans and dental insurance policies cover basic dental costs that are meant to prevent dental problems. That is, most dental coverage covers a large part or all the dental costs associated with basic services such as cleaning, checkups, and other dental procedures meant to prevent tooth and gum disease. This can also be the most important type of coverage, as it helps encourage patients to seek regular dental care, which can prevent later problems.
2. Basic dental care and dental procedures
Most dental plans and dental insurance also cover basic dental procedures. This may include fillings, tooth extractions, fixing chipped teeth, and other such basic procedures. What your provider considers to be basic dental care may vary widely. Some providers include root canals as part of basic dental care, for example, while others do not. In general, since providers cover a significant portion of basic dental care, you will want to select a dental care insurance provider who covers as many dental care basics and procedures as possible.
3. Major dental care
While not all dental insurance plans cover major dental care, some do cover at least a portion of these costs. Major dental care can include procedures such as dental surgery, orthodontics, denture work, and other large, expensive dental procedures. If you will require major dental care at some point in the future, you may wish to look for provider willing to pay for as large a percentage of this type of care as possible.
Factors That Affect Your Dental Insurance Coverage While most dental coverage covers these three basic areas of dental care, there are several factors that can affect how many benefits you get and how many of your dental costs are covered. Obviously, the most important factor affecting your coverage is your specific dental insurance plan. Each dental insurance plan a slightly different, which is why it is very important to compare plans before selecting one.
Other factors that affect your full dental insurance coverage include maximum benefits. Most dental insurance policies have a maximum yearly dollar amount. If you require dental care in excess of this amount, you will be responsible for paying the total amount that exceeds this dollar figure. Your maximum is not rolled over. That means that if spent less than your yearly maximum last year but need to overstep your maximum this year, the savings you offered your dental insurance provider a year ago won’t help you.
Dental networks may also affect your dental insurance coverage. If your dental insurance relies on networked dental care professionals, then you must visit the dental professionals specified through your provider’s network. Failure to do so can affect the amount of coverage and benefits you receive. Your dental plan may also be affected by deductibles. If your dental insurance requires a duct was, you may be required to pay part of your dental bill before your insurance provider contributes towards your dental costs.
Understanding Your Dental Insurance Coverage To get the best and most affordable dental care, you need to understand your dental insurance coverage and use it well. Your dental insurance provider or your employer should be able to explain your policy clearly to you. Before you visit your dental care professional, you may wish to look over your dental insurance coverage so that you understand what cost you will be responsible for. You do not want to be unpleasantly surprised when you receive a huge bill.
If you will be requiring major dental work, you may wish to take extra steps to make the most out of your dental insurance. One way to do this is to ask your dental care professional for a benefit estimate, which is sometimesalso called “a predetermination of benefits”. This estimate, when taken to your insurance provider, will help you understand how much of the total cost you will be responsible for. This can help you make the right decision about your dental care and about your dental care provider.
Dental coverage is a crucial part of your overall health. Having independent dental coverage can help ensure healthy teeth and gums by providing you with affordable, regular dental care. A key part of your dental insurance is understanding your policy. Understanding what is covered by your insurance can help make you feel comfortable in the dentist's chair. It can help you understand your financial responsibilities and can help you budget for your dental care.
Dental
Health Savings Accounts
You can use this account to pay for your qualified health expenses, including expenses that the plan ordinarily doesn’t cover, such as eyeglasses and hearing aids.
Expenses paid out of the HSA that are eligible expenses under your high-deductible health plan will count toward the plan’s deductible.
