Why Do You Need Dental Insurance?
In order to maintain a beautiful smile, it is important for patients to practice good oral hygiene. It can be tempting to put off or avoid dental visits until there is an issue. Once patients experience pain or have an oral health issue, they need to find a dentist and are often curious regarding the cost of service.
Unfortunately, the cost for service can drastically vary depending on if the patient has dental insurance and based on their specific coverage. In some cases, the dental insurance plan covers preventive care while other plans provide coverage for additional services.
Dental Insurance
Some patients may question if they even need dental insurance. While it is possible not to have dental insurance, there is some risk involved with not having coverage. In many cases, it is advantageous to obtain dental insurance. Some patients may be perfectly fine with more basic dental insurance coverage and can avoid comprehensive coverage.
Regardless of your dental insurance, it is important to address any oral health concerns as soon as possible. Neglecting issues or avoiding treatment can allow for the issue to progress and cause further damage. This often results in expensive treatment.
Insurance
Certain types of insurance such as car or homeowners’ insurance exist in case something bad or unexpected happens. Dental insurance is similar to health insurance in that it is actually designed to preserve your health and keep bad things from happening.
Coverage
Dental insurance requires patients to pay a monthly premium. The plan then provides coverage for dental service throughout the year. The coverage can vary based on the specific plan and insurance carrier. In most cases, dental insurance will cover all costs associated with preventive dental care. This typically includes routine checkups, screenings or x-rays, and professional cleanings. There can be various levels of coverage for different services.
Below is a summary of some companies who offer dental insurance plans:
- Anthem
- Ameritas
- Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS)
- Cigna
- Delta Dental
- Guardian
- Humana
- Spirit Dental
- UnitedHealthcare
Benefit
Patients who make routine visits to the dentist for preventive care, typically find that their dental insurance pays for itself throughout the year. Patients who require additional or unexpected dental quickly understand the benefit of dental insurance coverage.
Premiums and Coverage
Dental insurance is an investment, and it can be helpful to use an example to fully understand the benefit of having coverage. For example, if a patient pays a monthly premium of $40, this results in $480 annually. Most plans will cover the entire cost of two checkups each year. This can vary based on the individual’s coverage, so it is important to review the details of your plan. Providers may negotiate checkup fees with the insurers, which can lower the overall cost. The average out-of-pocket cost for two routine dental visits is between $400 and $500. There is also value for patients who have an unexpected root canal or filling as many plans cover a portion of these costs.
Another benefit of dental insurance is that it reduces the need for more advanced dental care services. Routine dental visits help maintain good oral health. The professional cleaning also removes any plaque or tartar which has accumulated on the teeth. These visits also aid in the early detection of oral health issues. When these things go untreated, it can cause serious consequences and result in the need for expensive treatment.
Dental care can be expensive without insurance. Insurance helps make dental services more affordable and also helps patients maintain healthy teeth and gums. There are many providers of dental insurance, including Cigna. These providers often have various plans which can help meet your needs.
Call the office today to discuss any questions you have regarding our services and insurance coverage.