What is Dental Insurance?
Dental insurance is a form of coverage that helps offset the costs of dental care. Dental offices typically have a fee schedule, which is a list of prices for the services and procedures they offer.
There are several types of dental insurance plans, including:
- Indemnity Dental Insurance Plan: This type of plan may be useful if you want to continue seeing your current dentist and they do not participate in a dental network. The insurance company generally pays the dentist a percentage of the cost of your services according to the policy you purchased. It is important to review the co-payment requirements, waiting periods, stated deductible, annual limitations, and graduated percentage scales based on the type of procedure and/or length of time you have owned the policy prior to starting your dental work.
- Dental Health Managed Organization (DHMO): When a dentist signs a contract with a dental insurance company, they agree to accept an insurance fee schedule and provide their customers with reduced costs for services as an In-Network Provider. Many DHMO insurance plans have little or no waiting periods and no annual maximum benefit limitations, while covering major dental work near the start of the policy period. This plan is sometimes purchased to help defray the high cost of dental procedures. Some dental insurance plans offer free semi-annual preventative treatment, while fillings, crowns, implants, and dentures may have various limitations.
- Participating Provider Network (PPO): Depending on your specific plan, a PPO works similarly to a DHMO while using an In-Network facility. However, it allows you to use an Out-of-Network or Non-Participating Provider. Any difference in fees will become the financial responsibility of the patient unless otherwise specified in your dental policy. Some dental insurance plans may have an annual maximum benefit limit, so once this limit is exhausted any additional treatments may become the patient’s responsibility. Each year this annual maximum is reissued, with the reissued date varying based on your specific plan.
Contact us to learn more about finding the right dental insurance plan for you.