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Dental Insurance
Dental insurance is a wonderful benefit and a great
help for many people in paying for their dentistry. Some plans help
a lot, some help only a little; it depends on the arrangement agreed
to between your employer and the insurance company. Dental insurance
is different from other types of insurance in several ways. Most types
of insurance have a sizable deductible that eliminates coverage for
small claims. These insurances are designed to help cover large, unexpected
expenses. Dental insurance, on the other hand, has a small deductible,
covers the smaller procedures to a great extent, but covers the larger
procedures to a lesser extent. For example, routine dental cleanings
might be covered at 100%, fillings at 80%, and crowns or bridges at
50%. There is also a yearly maximum of typically between $1000-2000
(which hasn't changed since the '60s).
In order for the employer to save premium expense,
insurance companies offer certain exclusions. A policy might be written
with no benefits for bridges, which are used to replace missing teeth,
or no benefit for periodontal (gum) treatment. These exclusions have
nothing to do with the dental needs of the patient. It doesn't matter
how badly the patient may need the treatment; if it's not in the contract,
it's not covered. It's tempting for patients to say they only want treatment
that's covered by their insurance. However, it's important to understand
that the insurance plan was not written with any patient's best interest
in mind. Limiting treatment to what the insurance covers may be hazardous
to you health.
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