Every month, you pay premiums for your dental coverage to visit your Downtown Crossing dentist for affordable rates. However, if you are like one-third of adults, you did not schedule an appointment last year. Often, many delay getting the care that they need because they are concerned about the cost despite having dental benefits. However, if you learn how your insurance works to use it to its full potential, you have nothing to fear. You can visit your dentist regularly for little to no out-of-pocket expense.
Protect Your Oral Health
Unlike medical coverage, dental insurance is designed to prevent oral health issues from developing in the first place. As a result, most policies allow you to get a cleaning and checkup twice a year for no expense at all.
You are also given a yearly allowance to use toward procedures to quickly rehabilitate the health of your teeth and gums. Often, insurance policies will cover as much as 80% of these treatments. However, before you can begin to use your coverage, there are some things that you need to know.
Waiting Period
The average dental policy has a waiting period before any work can be performed, which can range for 6 to 12 months. This helps to protect the insurance company against people applying for a new policy to cover impending procedures.
Deductible, Co-Payments, and Co-Insurance
Your will have to pay a yearly deductible before you can begin to use your dental policy. This amount can vary depending on your specific benefits; however, once it has been met, you can begin to visit your dentist for a low co-payment and the insurance company will cover their responsible portions of the services. To help pay for any remaining balance, you may choose a co-insurance, which is a second insurance policy.
Yearly Maximum
Most dental policies will cover preventive appointments twice a year in full, which includes cleanings, checkups, and x-rays. In addition, they may cover as much as 80% of restorative treatments, like fillings or root canals. For more invasive procedures, the amount they will pay will be smaller.
Often, they do not pay for cosmetic procedures. Your insurance policy will likely have a yearly maximum, which commonly ranges from $750 to $2,000 per year. After you have reached that amount, you will be fully responsible for your dental costs.
Maximize Your Policy
To help make the most of your dental benefits, it is recommended that you visit an in-network dentist, which means that they have pre-negotiated rates with your insurance company. However, you still have the freedom to use an out-of-network dentist. They will still help you maximize the value of your policy to keep out-of-pocket costs reduced.
About Devonshire Dental Associates
Devonshire Dental Associates strives to provide comprehensive dental services for affordable rates. We work with many leading insurance companies to help you stay within your budget; however, if you are out-of-network, we will still work with your insurance company to keep services within your budget. If you need to schedule a dental appointment, contact our office today.