If you are covered under a dental insurance plan, it is important for you to carefully read your benefits information and to fully understand your coverage, before you visit the dentist. This will ensure that you are able to take full advantage of your coverage. It will also help you know what to expect when it comes time to pay for your services.
If your dentist is in-network with your dental insurance provider, he or she may submit the claim to your insurance provider on your behalf. If your dentist is not in-network, you will most likely be asked to pay for your services at the time the services are rendered and then it is up to you to submit a claim to your dental insurance provider for reimbursement.
There are a variety of dental insurance companies on the market today and most of these companies offer a variety of benefit plans with different features. When you are reading over your dental insurance plan, it is helpful to be familiar with a few key terms including the following:
- Maximum – The maximum dollar amount a dental plan will pay toward the cost of dental care during a specific benefit period.
- Deductible – The amount of money you have to pay before your dental insurance plan will start contributing to the cost of your treatment.
- Coinsurance – A predetermined percentage of the cost of your treatment that is paid by your dental insurance plan. You are expected to pay the balance. Any portion over the coinsurance amount is paid by you, even after your meet your deductible.
As each insurance plan is different, it is important to understand the maximum, deductible and coinsurance amount for your specific dental insurance plan. If you have specific questions about how your dental insurance plan works, it is a good idea to call your dental insurance company and get answers to your questions before seeking dental treatment. This will ensure that you do not have any surprises when it comes time to pay your bill!
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