Dental Insurance Plans: Facts You Should Know
At the end of 2016, approximately 77% of Americans carried dental benefits. Since dental insurance plans are becoming a major fringe benefit in many companies, it is helping many people to obtain much needed dental treatments.
Thomas L. Anderson and Associates feels passionately about providing our patients with the highest possible dental care we can provide. To achieve our goals, we would like to share some dental insurance facts to help you to better understand your benefits, and how dental insurance plans work.
Dental Insurance Fact #1:
It is very important that you read your policy! We encourage you to read your policy to ensure that you understand your benefits and any limitations.
If there is a section or two that you do not understand, please contact us for clarification. We will always do our best to help you understand how your benefits work. Many routine and recommended services may not be covered by your policy. In fact, there are even some preventative services that many dental insurance plans have limitations on or do not cover at all, such as adult fluoride treatments. Even though your policy does not cover these services, there are many benefits to receiving these services, and your dental team will always recommend the best dental option for you, not what the insurance will cover. There are a number of clauses insurance companies will use to deny payment, such as pre-existing conditions or alternate (cheaper or downgraded) benefits. Remember that your dentist is here to recommend the best option for you.
Related Article: Understanding Dental Insurance
Dental Insurance Fact #2:
Dental insurance is meant to help aid you in achieving a healthy smile! With that in mind, many plans will only cover a percentage of the total cost of treatment.
In our experience, many patients are under the impression that their plan will pay a larger percentage of their treatment than what they do. This is why it is so important to read and understand your plan! In spite of what many patients believe, we have found on average a dental plan will cover 40%-80% of covered dental services. The percentages vary based upon dental insurance plans. The amount the plan pays is determined by what you or your employer has paid for the plan. The less money paid for a plan, the less benefits your will receive. An easy analogy is, did they purchase a standard economy car or a luxury vehicle?
Dental Insurance Fact #3:
We submit to your dental insurance after each visit. The patient, however, is always responsible for the total fee, and is expected to pay the difference between the insurance payment and total cost.
We are always happy to help you understand the confusing issues with dental insurance and are happy to provide you any information regarding policies and fees. We will give you an estimate cost for dental services, but it is important to remember that it is only an estimate. The insurance will always have the final say in the cost of the dental procedure.
Although dental insurance plans provide many great options for us, it is important that as consumers we understand the dental insurance facts. We hope that providing you with these dental insurance facts, you are able to better understand how your policy works. If you have any questions regarding your policy, please do not hesitate to contact Thomas L. Anderson and Associates for help!
If we can help you understand your dental insurance plans or would like to schedule an appointment, contact the offices of Thomas L. Anderson and Associates today at one of our three conveniently located dental office locations within the Kansas City area, including Lee’s Summit / Independence, the Country Club Plaza and Downtown Kansas City. The gentle dentists and expert team at Thomas L. Anderson and Associates look forward to working with you to treat your dental emergency, achieve proper oral health and a beautiful smile that will last a lifetime. If you have any questions about your dental insurance benefits, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are happy to review your policy! Please give us a call today to schedule an appointment and become part of our dental family.