At the beginning of the year, most people think a bit more about their insurance than usual. You might have just gotten a brand-new plan, and you could be in the midst of wondering how to best use it.
One thing that often trips people up is the differences between dental and medical insurance. People are often much more familiar with the latter than the former, so if you’re wondering about the difference between these two types of coverage, here are a few things that you should know.
1. Dental Insurance Premiums are Lower
One thing you might have already noticed is that dental insurance premiums are pretty low, especially if you’re bundling it with health insurance. Getting general health coverage can run you several hundred dollars a month depending on your situation, while dental insurance rarely even exceeds one hundred.
If you’re wondering why that it is, it’s partially because…
2. Dental Insurance Covers a Percentage of Your Care
One quirk of dental insurance is that they more often than not only pay for a portion of the care you receive, with this percentage changing depending on the kind of treatment you’re getting. In the case of minor restorative services, like fillings, you might get something like 80% of the treatment paid for. For major restorations, like dental crowns, that could be closer to 50%.
However, for most plans, 100% of checkups and cleanings will be covered. This means that getting regular preventive care is usually the best way to make full use of your dental benefits.
3. Dental Insurance Has Annual Maximums
One of the largest distinctions between dental and medical insurance is the annual maximum. This refers to the absolute most that your dental plan is going to be willing to pay out over the course of a single year.
The most important aspect of using dental insurance effectively is being able to time out your care so that you don’t accidentally exceed this yearly maximum. It’s generally a good idea to get preventive care early in the year so that you can be fully reimbursed for it, and wait until later in the year for more substantial treatments.
About the Author
Dr. David Thomas has always loved the idea of being a “friendly neighborhood dentist,” being someone who members of his community can count on to not only better their smiles, but to offer one of his own. Now, he’s happy to say that he’s living that dream. Dr. Thomas received his dental degree from the University of Pittsburgh, and loves working with his peers in order to help his patients get the greatest care possible.
If you have any questions about dental insurance, he can be reached at his website or by phone at (206) 244-4622.
