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4 Important Things to Keep in Mind About Dental Insurance

September 1, 2022

Filed under: Uncategorized — summitfamilydentistry @ 11:11 pm

Many people find dental insurance plans challenging to navigate on their own. This is because it doesn’t work the same way as the medical insurance that you’re used to. While they are similar in some aspects, they have plenty of differences. Everyone wants to maximize their benefits, but it is difficult to do when you don’t know exactly how it works. Read on to learn some helpful tips so you can grasp a better understanding of dental insurance.

Know Your Specific Plan

Your dental insurance plan is unique to use. So, when you understand what exactly it covers, you will feel more confident to seek the care that you need and want. When you go to the dental office, your insurance company pays a percentage that is based on the price level set for each treatment. You should know what this allowable amount is before you commit to any treatments so you know what you will be responsible for afterward.

Choose Your Preferred Provider

PPO stands for “preferred provider organization.” This means that you get to choose your dental provider, and it is not your insurance company’s job to dictate whom you should go to for care. However, you will want to check the differences in coverage between dental providers to make the best possible choice. You need to weigh the advantages and disadvantages to determine which one works best for your needs.

Know the Meaning of “Out of Network”

When you find a dentist who is “out-of-network,” you may automatically think that seeing them is out of the question. However, this is not necessarily the case. Sometimes this may mean that your insurance plan does not cover any treatments at the practice, but other times it just means that the amount that is covered reduces, but coverage is still available to help you get affordable care.

Understand That You Are the Customer

Your dental provider isn’t a customer of your insurance company – you are! If you are ever in a situation where you need to pay your provider in full, your insurance company will reimburse you directly in a matter of weeks. They are much faster to reimburse you than the dental practice. Fortunately, you have a helpful administrative team to give you a hand in figuring this out, but it is always best that you verify your benefits so you know what you can expect

Dental insurance can be a confusing topic, but by working to comprehend it, you will have a much easier time maximizing your benefits and getting the essential dental care you need!

About the Author

Dr. Dinesh Patel earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the State University at Buffalo before completing his post-graduate general dentistry residency at the Erie County Medical Center in Buffalo, NY. Currently, he is the proud owner of Summit Family Dentistry. For more information on dental insurance or to schedule an appointment at his office in Waterford, visit his website or call (814) 923-4510.

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