Helping You Get the Most Out of Your Benefits
Dental insurance can be complicated and frustrating to navigate, especially because every plan is different. Our team at Arrowhead Dentistry wants to help you get the most out of your coverage and minimize out-of-pocket costs, which is why we’re happy to file claims on your behalf each time you see us. Below, we’ve included some helpful basics so you can understand your benefits a little better. If you have any questions, please call us at our Glendale office!
Understanding How Dental Insurance Works
Dental insurance is designed to help you maintain a healthy smile by covering a portion of the cost of your oral health care. It is meant to assist with costs, not cover everything, and some necessary services may not be included. While plans vary widely in what and how much coverage they provide, most provide a significant portion toward the cost of regular dental cleanings and check-ups. Coverage for more extensive treatment may be limited depending on the plan chosen for you. Most plans include an annual deductible – the amount you pay before benefits begin – and have a yearly maximum amount available.
We believe that decisions about your dental care treatment are best made by you and the doctor, not the insurance company as our goal is to help you keep your natural teeth for a lifetime. We also want to make sure that any insurance benefits available are maximized for your benefit, and we are happy to help you understand your benefits, submit pre-treatment estimates when necessary, and to the best of our ability help you maximize your coverage.
Most dental insurance plans also have an annual deductible and maximum. The deductible is a set amount of money that your plan requires you to pay before your benefits kick in, and the maximum is a capped-off amount of money that your insurance will pay out for your treatments within a calendar year. It’s a good idea to know what these amounts are so you’re never surprised when you’ll be required to pay out-of-pocket for a service.
What Does Your Dental Insurance Plan Cover?
It’s important to note that no two dental insurance plans are the same, so benefits can vary dramatically from patient to patient. However, most plans determine coverage based on a 100-80-50 model. This means that they’ll cover 100 percent of the cost of preventive visits, like checkups and cleanings, 80 percent of basic treatments like cavity fillings, and 50 percent of more serious procedures such as tooth extractions.
We Offer In-Network Savings & Welcome Out-of-Network Providers
We’re only in-network with Delta Premier, but we’re a dental insurance-friendly dental office and are happy to file claims for patients who are out-of-network. Our financial team files claims every day, so we’re well-versed on how to maximize our patients’ benefits as best as we can. If you have any questions or concerns about your dental insurance coverage, don’t hesitate to reach out!
