DavidThere’s no doubt that oral health affects our general wellbeing in some way. If you have ever experienced a toothache, then you probably know the importance of dental care.
Unfortunately, most people still don’t take oral health with the seriousness that it deserves. Some people wait until they have a serious issue with their teeth before they think of visiting a dentist. Others just fear the pain associated with dental care.
However, you shouldn’t wait until the situation gets worse before thinking about dental health. It is important to understand that your health insurance policy covers almost everything apart from dental care.
It is therefore good to consider a number of things when shopping for a dental care plan.
Below are some of the things you should know about dental insurance:
Most insurance plans cover preventative care
Going for annual checkups or after six months can turn out to be expensive and unsustainable. They normally comprise cleaning, a visual inspection by a dentist, and annual x-rays. At the end of the year, you may find yourself spending up to $200 just for a single preventative care visit.
Most dental insurance policies cover all the expenses related to dental care. However, there are some that may cover only 60 percent.
When considering to buy a dental insurance plan, ensure that the insurer includes all preventative care fees. This is because such fees are the ones that protect you against the future and costly dental appoint5ments
Dental insurance doesn’t cover cosmetic procedures
This is another important thing you need to know about dental insurance. Most insurance companies can cover anything else apart from the cost of cosmetic dental procedures. This is because such procedures don’t have medical implications but rather a way of improving the appearance of teeth.
As such, the insurance company does not consider them as medically important and anybody who needs them must be ready to pay from their pockets. Nonetheless, some insurance policies do cover braces – that have some medical benefits.
Dental plans have waiting periods
Although you are likely to save money through a dental plan, sometimes it can be difficult to wait for an entire month without seeing a dentist.
But some plans such as preventative care visits get immediate coverage or sometimes within 30 days. Other services such as basic restoration may take three months while major restorative services can wait up to six months.
Additionally, some dental plans may not cover certain services every year. As such, it would be good to confirm how much your dental plan covers during the year.
Co-pays, deductibles, and coinsurance
An insurance deductible is the least amount that you are supposed to pay before the insurance company remits any money. For instance, if the deductible is $250 and the covered amount for a procedure is $170, then the insurance policy won’t be activated until the person pays the full amount.
Besides, copays may also be needed by the time a patient goes for a procedure. As soon as a dental deductible has been fulfilled, most insurance policies will only cover the remaining expenses. The remaining balance, also known as coinsurance normally ranges from 20 to 80 percent.
Annual coverage premiums
Dental insurance premiums usually range from one $800 to $1500 per year. Essentially, the higher the premiums paid on a monthly basis, the higher the annual maximum. Immediately a patient exhausts the annual maximum, he or she has to pay for the remaining amount of a dental procedure.
In a nutshell, there are a lot of things you should consider when shopping for dental insurance. Understanding most of them will help you make the right decision.