Not every dental insurance plan is the same, which can make navigating your benefits especially difficult. Fortunately, your dental team in DuPont has unmatched expertise when it comes to helping you get the most out of your plan in addition to explaining how it works. To help you gain a better understanding of the ins and outs of your dental insurance plan, including what treatments it covers, read below.
What Does Dental Insurance Cover?
Dental insurance plans are notorious for not having clear, accessible details about coverage, and in many cases, patients just have to wait until they receive a bill for uncovered services from their dental office or insurance company. These bills can give you a lot of information about what your plan covers, but they can also be frustrating and unexpected. To help minimize that post-bill frustration, it’s good to have an idea of what your dental insurance covers.
While every dental insurance plan is different, most follow a 100-80-50 coverage structure. This means that they cover 100 percent of the cost of preventive treatments, 80 percent of the cost of basic, common treatments like tooth-colored fillings, and 50 percent of more extensive procedures, like surgical tooth extractions and dentures.
Types of Dental Services & How They’re Covered
- Preventive Treatments: Preventive treatments like checkups and cleanings and routine dental X-rays are typically covered at 100 percent every six months. This means that they need to be scheduled at least six months apart to be fully covered.
- Minor Procedures: Less extensive services like dental fillings, simple tooth extractions, and gum disease treatment are usually covered at 80 percent. This means that your dental insurance will cover 80 percent of the billed amount and you’ll be responsible for the remainder.
- Major Dental Services: More extensive dental services like dental implants, bridges, crowns, and dentures are typically covered at 50 percent, meaning you’ll be responsible for paying half of the cost to your dental office.
Tips for Maximizing Your Insurance Benefits
The best ways to maximize your dental insurance benefits are to have your dental office file claims on your behalf (because they’re great at what they do!) and practice preventive dental care to minimize the occurrence of serious dental issues down the road. By following these two tips, you can make the most out of your investment in insurance as well as minimize your out-of-pocket expenses in the future.
About the Practice
At DuPont Family Dentistry, both of our providers, Dr. John Ludu and Dr. Rhenu Sharma, accept all PPO dental insurance plans, and our team will help you maximize your benefits at every visit. Whether you’re insured through BlueCross BlueShield, Cigna, Delta Dental, or another dental insurance company, we will conduct a benefits check before you commit to undergoing treatment so you have an idea of what your insurance will require you to pay out-of-pocket. We also offer flexible financing for those who want to take advantage of it. To schedule an appointment, visit DuPont Family Dentistry’s website or call 253-964-7000.