February 2018: Understanding your Insurance Benefits
Dental insurance can be difficult to understand. In simplest terms, a typical dental insurance plan has a small deductible ($25 – $100) which means you must pay this amount before your plan starts paying. After this, plans normally pay up to a certain benefit amount of $1000 – $2500 annually although you will have to pay co-insurance along the way.
However, plans are normally designed to encourage you to see a dentist periodically and take care of issues before they become more complex and expensive. Thus, preventive services like x-rays and cleanings usually do not require any money out of pocket.
Below is a table of major procedural categories and what percentage of the fee that a typical plan may pay:*
- Preventative Services. 100% paid by insurance (patient pays nothing out of pocket)
- Exams
- X-Rays
- Cleanings (non-periodontal)
- Basic Services: 50 – 80% paid by insurance (patient pays remaining portion – “co-insurance”)
- Fillings
- Extractions
- Periodontal treatments
- Major Services: 25 – 50% paid by insurance (patient pays remining portion)
- Crowns
- Dentures
- Orthodontics
*Typical – not a guarantee. Contact us for specific questions about your dental plan
As you can see, the more complex the procedure, the more you will have to pay. Note that all insurance plans are different, and our dentist in Columbia, SC and support staff can guide you through your plan and maximize your benefits. Contact us to take advantage of your what your plans pays before your situation gets more costly and painful.
