With a good number of Americans visiting dentists every year, it is sure that stand-alone dental plans will prove valuable for them. Especially with dental coverage not being a part of major health insurance plans available for adults, people need to seriously think of buying the best dental plan that suffice their oral health care need without causing much burden on their pocket. To cater to the oral health of people, several dental insurance carriers are operational in the country offering different types of dental plans. Individuals enrolled in stand-alone dental insurance plans may be aware of the benefits they received with their dental plans but most of the time they don't have a better understanding of how their dental plan works and so they are unable to make the most of their dental plan benefits.
Go for Regular Dental Checkups - Most dental plans focus on preventive dental care and especially regular dental checkups. Thus, regular dental checkups and preventive dental care are either 100% covered or covered at the highest percentage. Most dental plans provide 100% coverage for preventive dental care like regular dental checkups and teeth cleanings and 80% coverage for other preventive dental care like dental sealants and fluoride treatments. By visiting dentists every six months, individuals will receive essential oral care and will also get a chance to prevent advanced oral health problems that are partially covered under the dental plan.
Stay In-Network - Members of the dental insurance plans should try to avail dental care services from the in-network dental care providers because they have agreed to render dental care services to members at a discounted price. Most dental care services have discounted rates i.e. 10 to 35% off the regular fee when staying in-network. For instance, dental implants are not completely covered under the dental plan, but the network dentists or oral surgeons would carry out implants at a reduced price for the members.
Understand the Dental Plan Lingo - Some individuals may find dental insurance plans complicated mainly because they are unable to understand some of the lingoes. So individuals must try to understand some common dental insurance terms that will help them to maximize their coverage.
Some common terms include:
Premium - The monthly amount which the insured pays for the dental plan.
Maximum - This is the highest amount paid by the dental carrier for the insured dental care in a given year.
Deductible - It is the amount paid by the insured before the start of his/her dental insurance coverage.
In-network - Dental care providers who associate with the dental insurance carriers to render dental care services at a pre-negotiated dental care rate.
Talk to Dentist and Dental Team for Better Understanding of Dental Coverage – The best way to maximize the dental benefits is to talk to the dentistry team regarding the benefits covered by the dental plan. While seeking any advanced dental treatment, the insured should try to understand from their dentists how their dental carriers would cover the service. This will save them from the surprise if they have to pay any additional amount for their advanced dental treatment.
