Seeing the dentist on a regular basis is important, but you also need to make sure that you’re able to fit the cost of your care into your budget. Dental insurance can be an invaluable tool for managing your oral health care expenses, but are you sure that you fully understand your plan and how you can take advantage of it? Here are 4 essential facts about dental insurance that you should remember if you want to save as much money on dentistry as possible.
1. Dental Insurance Offers More Coverage for Preventive Treatment
Many dental insurance plans will cover most or all of the cost of preventive dental services such as regular checkups and cleanings. In contrast, they will typically pay less for crowns and other restorative treatments.
For this reason, if you want to minimize your out-of-pocket dental expenses, you should take advantage of your preventive coverage and see your dentist at least two times a year. These preventive visits will increase the chances of problems being caught while they’re still in their early stages, allowing you to have them treated long before they require more costly restorative procedures.
2. HMOs Cost Less Than PPOs But Aren’t As Flexible
There are two main kinds of dental insurance plans: HMOs and PPOs. HMOs tend to be less costly, but the tradeoff is that they will only pay for treatments provided by partners within their network. PPOs, meanwhile, give you greater freedom in choosing a dental practice. It’s important to weigh the pros and cons of HMOs and PPOs carefully before choosing the type of plan that’s right for you.
3. Dental Insurance Plans Often Come with Waiting Periods
When you first buy a new dental insurance plan, your coverage may not kick in right away. Oftentimes, there will be a period of time that you need to wait before your dental insurance company is willing to pay for your care.
Note that different types of services can have different waiting periods attached. Oftentimes, it won’t be long before your insurance company will pay for preventive checkups and cleanings. Meanwhile, you may have to wait around three months to receive coverage for restorative treatments.
4. Dental Insurance Coverage Will Not Roll Over
Your dental insurance benefits may reset at the end of the calendar year (or whatever 12-month period your insurance company specifies). Any leftover benefits will not be carried over at this time; in other words, they will essentially be lost. As such, if you want to get your money’s worth out of your dental insurance, you should do everything you can to maximize your current benefits while you still have them.
About the Author
Dr. Rachel H. Clark earned a bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene from Wichita State University. After six years as a dental hygienist, she eventually went to Creighton University for her dental degree. As a dentist in Derby, she currently provides her patients with a wide variety of services to protect and improve their smiles. Her practice, Illuminate Family Dentistry, accepts many popular dental insurance plans. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Clark, visit her website or call (316) 847-7730.