Dental insurance is a vital form of insurance that will protect you against unexpected dental procedures like a cracked tooth, root canal, or crown. One of the main benefits of dental insurance is it incentives you to regularly see a dentist so you lesson the need for emergency work done on your teeth in the first place. Before you enroll in dental insurance plan, it is very important to consider several situations you will need to be aware of so you can choose the right plan that fits your needs.
What you should consider before purchasing a dental insurance plan:
- Do I need a dental procedure done right away?
- How long are the waiting periods for each dental insurance plan before I will have my procedure covered?
- How much is the monthly premium?
- What is the dentist network? Will I be able to stay with my current dentist or will I need to switch?
- What is the cost to see a dentist outside of my dentist network?
- How much is the deductible?
- After meeting the deductible, how much with the dental insurance provider pay towards my procedure?
Considering the questions above while selecting your insurance policy will help you pick a plan that best fits your needs.
How does dental insurance work?
Similar to health insurance, dental insurance operates in very much the same way. You will have a monthly premium, deductibles to meet, and waiting periods to fulfill depending on the procedure that is required.
What does your dental insurance cover right away?
Most dental plans have 6 month to a year waiting period for bigger procedures such as root canals, crowns, orthodontia, or a cracked tooth. Fortunately, there are preventative services that are covered right away once your dental insurance plan starts. Below you will see a brief list of the most common preventative procedures that are covered from the policy start date.
Common Preventative Treatments Covered:
- Office Visits
- Cleanings
- X Rays
What types of waiting periods are associated with dental insurance?
A great rule of thumb to follow is the greater and more intrusive a dental procedure is the longer the waiting period is going to be for it to be covered. Below are the most common waiting periods for a few well known procedures:
6 Month Waiting Period
- Fillings
One Year Waiting Period
- Crowns
- Root Canals
- Dentures
How do annual deductibles work when it comes to dental insurance?
An annual deductible for dental insurance works the same way an annual deductible works for health insurance. Once you meet your annual deductible of, let’s say, $1,000 for the calendar year, you will need to pay for office visits, x-rays, and lab tests on your own. However, once your deductible is met, the dental insurance company will begin covering 0%-60% of your overall dentist bill. Not only is it important to go to your semi annual checkups for your dental health but it is important to help you meet you annual deductible. Then, when a dental emergency pops up, you will not need to pay as much for it to be completed.
What is a maximum payout limit?
This is the maximum amount of money that your dental insurer will pay to cover dental procedures in one calendar year (January 1 – December 31st). Once you have met that limit, then you will have to pay for all remaining dental procedures on your own.
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