Your Dentist in Arlington Makes Dental Insurance Easy to Understand

Healthcare has never been an easy topic to understand. When it comes to knowing what dental care will cost and how to pay for it, it shouldn’t be a difficult subject. Your dental insurance is meant to keep you at ease, not constantly make you worry.

That’s why your dentist in Arlington is ready to help you understand your dental insurance and how most insurance plans work. Take a moment to learn so you can be confident at your next dental visit.

Know What Makes Up Your Dental Insurance

When you have dental insurance, you should keep note of what your insurance deductible is. This amount determines when your insurance kicks in and how much your insurance covers treatment. For example, if your deductible is $150 but the procedure is only $100, your insurance won’t kick in and you’ll pay the full amount.

Once it does, however, your policy will help cover the remaining amount over the deductible. Any balance remaining afterwards, known as co-insurance, is also paid by you and can range from 20% to 80% of the remaining bill. Depending on the procedure done, there also may be co-pays you’ll need to cover, which are set dollar amounts that patients pay each time a medical service is accessed.

What Your Dental Insurance Covers

Dental procedures covered by insurance companies are placed into three different categories. Below is a summary for each and what they often cover.

• Preventive – Most dental plans will cover all preventive care since you’ll be using this kind of care often. It covers annual or semi-annual offices for cleanings, X-rays, and dental sealants that prevent future cavities.
• Basic – This includes most common treatments for basic dental issues like extractions, fillings, root canals, and gum disease. Your deductible, co-pay, and co-insurance will determine your out-of-pocket expense and most policies will cover between 70% and 80%, which you’ll pay the remainder of.
• Major – Treatments like crowns, bridges, inlays, and dentures are usually only covered at high co-payment and may require you to pay more out-of-pocket.

Points to Keep in Mind

Every dental insurance policy comes with its own methods of categorizing treatments. One policy may consider an extraction to be a major treatment for example, while another might consider it basic. This can cause the price you pay to fluctuate dramatically.

Most dental insurances do not cover any amount for cosmetic procedures, as they are not seen as medically necessary by most insurers. Some policies may cover braces but may require a special rider and/or a lengthy waiting period.

When you first apply for dental insurance, a waiting period is typically put in place to discourage people from applying to cover impending procedures. This period can be 6 to 12 months and even up to two years depending on the coverage.

Schedule a dental checkup with your dentist in Arlington to maximize your dental insurance benenfits today!

About the Author

Dr. James T. Gray earned his bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from the University of Texas and his Doctor of Dental Surgery at the University of Texas Dental School at San Antonio. He is a member of several dental associations and study groups, including the ADA, the Texas Dental Association, the CEREC study club in Dallas, and the Implant Team International study club to stay informed of the latest advancements in dental technology. To learn more about his practice, contact him at (817) 460-4131 or visit his website.