Use Your Dental Insurance Benefits Before It’s Too Late
Do you have a dental insurance policy and haven’t been to Abari Orthodontics & Oral Surgery this year? If so, there is no better time than now to schedule an appointment. You must remember one thing when it comes to dental benefits–if you don’t use it, you lose it. Why pay a monthly premium for a policy that goes to waste?
Let’s learn more about how your policy works and how you can take full advantage of your dental benefits before the New Year.
What Are Dental Benefits?
Dental insurance benefits are cost-free treatments you get from signing up for an insurance plan. Generally, most companies are straightforward and specify the exact type of services and procedures they cover.
What Procedures are Covered?
Oral insurance plans typically cover preventive care, fillings, root canals, oral surgery, and crowns. However, some insurances may cover a portion of restorative and orthodontic treatments like traditional braces, dentures, and bridges. Keep in mind that coverage can vary from plan to plan, and others may have more extensive coverage.
Some private dental health plans may cover a portion of the cost of braces, such as the procedure itself. However, they might still require you to pay some fees or co-payments.
When shopping for dental insurance, compare the features and benefits to see if braces are included. Please pay special attention to any limitations regarding orthodontic coverage. For example, it may only apply to certain conditions or up to a specific age.
What is the Maximum Benefit?
When paying your dental insurance premium each month, you pay to be covered up to a certain point. That coverage amount is your annual maximum. Everything starts at zero when the year ends. You must begin building back up to that max.
So, all the money you were supposed to use for dental treatments disappears. It is a considerable gain to the insurance companies and a heartbreaking loss to you. For this reason, you should never skip out on your biannual dental checkups. Six-month checkups help you maintain optimal oral health and give you the most bang for your buck!
What is an Insurance Deductible?
Just as your maximum benefit resets at the beginning of the new year, so does your deductible. It is the amount that you must pay out of your pocket before insurance kicks in. Most plans use the 100-80-50 structure to specify their contribution to specific dental procedures. The amount stated will vary from plan to plan.
It means that the cost of preventive care is most likely 100% covered, essential treatments 80%, and significant dental procedures covered at only 50%. In addition, some insurance companies may not cover cosmetic treatments such as teeth whitening or dental implants.
100% Dental Coverage on Preventive Procedures
Don’t only think of your insurance policy as something that helps you get your teeth fixed in the case of an emergency. It’s really about keeping excellent oral health and preventing disease before it takes hold. Most dental care insurance plans cover 100% of the following twice a year:
- Professional teeth cleaning helps prevent cavities and keeps oral health in tip-top shape.
- A dental examination is more than just checking for tooth decay. Your soft tissues are examined for suspicious areas related to oral cancer, along with your thyroid, lymph nodes, and jaw joints.
- Dental x-rays show problems that the naked eye can’t see. Even dentists have a difficult time detecting cavities between the teeth. And abscessed teeth that have no symptoms are sometimes only seen through x-rays.
Visit Your Orthodontist Before Your Insurance Benefits Expire
Please see us at Abari Orthodontics & Oral Surgery in San Dimas, CA. We can help you understand and use the maximum dental insurance benefits before the New Year. Call your orthodontist in San Dimas today to squeeze in your appointment!
