Pearly White Plans: Facts to Know When Buying Dental Insurance

January is a month of fresh starts for many people. It represents the clean slate of a new year – a year that’s only begun! So, perhaps you’re trying some things for the first time. That said, be careful if one of those is a new dental plan. There are various facts you should know when buying dental insurance. In fact, your Farmington dentist will explain a few. Here are four crucial things to grasp when you buy a dental insurance policy.

How Plan Coverage Usually Works

The typical dental plan will cover (to varying degrees) these three types of service:

• Preventive & Diagnostic Care – Preventive care is any treatment that prevents oral health issues. It includes dental checkups, teeth cleanings, X-rays, and fluoride options.
• Basic Dental Procedures  – Basic dental procedures are simple services that repair teeth. They include fillings and root canals.
• Major Dental Procedures – Major procedures are complex dental treatments that can restore your smile. Common ones range from crowns and bridges to dental implants and dentures.

With most dental plans, keep the “100-80-50” rule in mind. This idea states that a policy will generally pay 100% of preventive care, 80% of basic procedures, and 50% of major procedures.

Most Plans are Managed-Care Ones

As it happens, most dental policies take the form of managed-care plans. These sorts require patients to choose from a pre-approved list of dentists.

There are two main types of managed-care dental plans: HMOs and PPOs. An HMO has you pay monthly premiums and restricts you to in-network dentists. Meanwhile, a PPO will offer some coverage even if you see an out-of-network dentist.

You Could Get Group Dental Coverage

You may not have to get dental insurance on your own. Often enough, patients can qualify for dental benefits through their employer or other groups. These plans are less pricey than individual policies and may have better benefits.

There are two big ways to confirm if you have group dental benefits. Firstly, you could ask your employer’s HR department about the matter. Another method is to contact notable group coverage programs like AARP, Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and TriCare for the military.

It’s Best to find an In-Network Dentist

Whether you have a preferred dentist or not, it’s best to find one who’s in-network. These dental providers accept your insurance plan and reduce the price of their treatments.

Remember, PPOs and HMOs put limits on the dentists you can see. That means going out-of-network will increase your treatment costs. In contrast, staying in-network grants access to dental benefits that save you money. You’ll get more for less by seeing an in-network dental practice.

There are other facts you should know when buying dental insurance. Still, start with the four above – they’ll prepare you to get a fine plan!

About the Practice

Farmington Valley Dental is based in Bergenfield, NJ. Led by Dr. Thomas G. Peters, our practice loves to give patients healthy and confident smiles. We thus offer preventive, cosmetic, and restorative work, as well as emergency oral care. Our office is also in-network with various dental plan providers, including BlueCross BlueShield, Delta Dental, and Met Life. For more details or to book a visit, you can reach us on our website or by phone at (860)-677-8500.