If you need cheaper oral care, you’ll likely benefit from new dental insurance. The right plan can cover your treatment costs and make even pricey dentistry affordable. Still, you should consider some crucial things when buying dental insurance. You might get confused and choose a poor policy otherwise. Luckily, your Tulsa dentist can help out with this situation. To that end, here are three facts to remember when you buy a dental insurance plan.
Dental Plans Come in Different Types
In reality, there isn’t just one kind of dental insurance. There are several types on offer, each with its own distinct features. They are the following:
- Preferred Provider Organization (PPO): A PPO plan gives members access to a network of dentists who accept reduced fees for covered services. It also lets you see dentists outside the network, but doing so can lead to higher out-of-pocket costs.
- Health Maintenance Organization (HMO): Unlike a PPO, an HMO requires members to use in-network dentists. Also, it provides lower-cost coverage with a focus on preventive care.
- Indemnity dental plans: In an indemnity dental plan, you pay the whole cost of treatment and file a claim. The insurance company will reimburse you for its portion if the claim is approved. (Uniquely, this insurance doesn’t restrict you to a network.)
Most Plans Cover Preventive Care
True enough, annual dental checkups can get pricey. That’s only natural – each includes a cleaning, an oral exam, and dental X-rays. As a result, you may spend over $200 just on a single six-month checkup!
Fortunately, most dental insurance plans fully cover preventive care. That means you only need to worry about the co-pay. Still, do note that some plans only cover around 60%. You should thus ensure the insurance you get includes all preventive care fees. After all, these checkups prevent more costly appointments down the road.
Dental Plans Have Waiting Periods
While insurance works quite well, don’t save all your dentistry for your first month with a dental plan. Each policy has a waiting period before its benefits “kick in.”
This period can vary based on the kind of dental service. Typically, preventive care visits are covered immediately (i.e., within the first 30 days). Basic restorative services, meanwhile, may be covered three months after purchasing the plan. Major restoration work is usually only covered after the six-month mark.
Despite these guidelines, personally confirm how much your policy covers during a calendar year. Some may only cover a few services each year.
As you can see, you should be careful when buying dental insurance. By remembering the facts above, though, you should find a plan that suits you!
About the Practice
My Dentist Midtown is based in Tulsa, OK. Led by Dr. Stephanie Flinchum, our practice seeks to provide top-quality aid for your teeth and gums. To that end, we offer preventive, cosmetic, and restorative services, as well as emergency procedures. Our office also accepts various dental insurance plans to ensure affordable care. For more information or to book a visit, you can reach us on our website or by phone at (918)-949-4450.