Dental insurance typically pays for routine exams, cleanings, fillings, and some restorative work like bridges and crowns. All dental plans aren’t the same, and asking the right questions at the right time can impact how much of your services are covered.
Know what is covered and how often it’s paid for. Most plans cover exams at least twice a year. Use your benefits too. Going for routine care keeps your teeth in good shape, and lets you take care of problems before they get out of hand. Preventative care is less expensive than restorative care.
Choose an approved dentist. Some companies require that you choose a provider from their network. For these cases, you can usually find a list of providers on the insurance company’s Web site.
Schedule your appointments ahead of time, as the waiting list can sometimes be long. And, when you get an appointment, keep it. Most dentists charge for “no shows”, so save yourself some money by being punctual.
Find out if the work you need is covered. Your dentist may recommend work like veneers that may not be paid for. Ask them to send your treatment plan to your insurance company, so that you have a clear idea of what’s paid for and what isn’t. Knowing can allow you to work out an alternative plan with your dentist, or set up a payment arrangement yourself.
Schedule work to maximize the amount reimbursed. Most plans have maximums. If you need a lot of expensive work you may need to spread it out over two or more plan years. If the work is to be done over the course of six months, start in October and end in March so all the treatments will be covered. Also you can use your flexible spending account to pay your expenses tax free.
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