Many employers provide dental insurance. Most dental plan premiums are included with your medical premiums, this is usually deducted from your paycheck before taxes. When you receive coverage through an employer you usually do not make monthly premium payments because it is already deducted in your health care costs. You may or may not have the option to choose different dental plans through your employer. If this is the case, dental coverage is the same for every health care plan. For example, a PPO, HMO or Fee-For-Service health plan, will all include the same dental plan.
Most insurance plans do not cover dental work at 100%. Deductible, co-pays, and co-insurance may apply to your plan. Check with your plan to be aware of your maximum benefits level per year. A common maximum is $1500.00. This means you will not be eligible for payment after this limit is reached. Before receiving any treatment from your dentist you may request the office to send a pre-determination to your insurance company. By doing this, the dentist will send all billing codes to the insurance to get a explanation of benefits. This will show actually how much your dentist will be paid and how much you will be responsible for if any.
You may consider picking up secondary coverage. This will be a plan that you choose. It is not elected by your employer. Now you have the ability to choose different plans and choose a plan that meets you and your family needs. Many health insurance companies including Anthem, Humana, and Cigna offers individual dental plans.
It is suggested to make both primary and secondary dental insurance effective dates the same. This will prevent any confusion or denials from the insurance company. You do not want to relapse your coverage and be responsible for unpaid claims. Dental work can be very expensive and available funds can be used very fast.
When choosing a secondary insurance plan you must choose carefully. Consider not only yourself but also family members. Do you have children that may receive braces in the incoming years? If so you will want to consider a plan that has a high maximum amount or specific orthodontic benefits.
Many people are unaware of their dental benefits and pay higher out of pocket amounts. Before choosing a dental provider check with your insurance plan to make sure they are in your network. You will save a lot money by choosing a dentist your insurance company recommends. This is called in-network and out-network benefits. With a out of network dentist your plan will cover less. You may request a provider list from your insurance company or many companies offer this information though their website. Knowledge of your insurance plan is key. A little research can help you choose the best plan for the best cost.