Michigan Dental Association has a lot of good information on their website. One of the articles I recently came across was “Dental Insurance Myths”. On a daily basis we receive many questions regarding dental insurance; so here are some Dental Insurance Myths we wanted to pass along to you.
MYTH: I can’t go to the dentist if I don’t have dental insurance.
FACT: Absolutely not true. Many people
without dental insurance find that regular
dental care is affordable, especially since
preventive treatment helps safeguard against
future problems, before they become more
serious and expensive to treat. Regular dental
visits are an important part of your overall
health, as studies show that poor dental health is
linked to other medical issues such as diabetes,
oral cancer and heart disease.
If you don’t have dental insurance, talk to
your dentist about payment options that may be
available to you.
MYTH: My dental plan should cover all of the
costs of my dental care.
FACT: Dental plans are designed to help
pay for a portion of your dental costs. Many
plans cover 100 percent of basic preventive and
diagnostic services, and then between 50 percent
and 80 percent of restorative care and other
treatment needs. Your cost depends completely
on the services and procedures which your
employer has purchased as part of your dental
benefit plan.
MYTH: My dentist has recommended a more
expensive procedure that is only partially
covered by my dental plan. Is my dentist trying
to take advantage of me?
FACT: Absolutely not. While your plan may
limit certain types of treatment it will cover,
you and your dentist should always decide
what treatment is best for your specific needs.
Dental plan administrators are not usually
dental professionals and therefore are not in a
position to decide which treatments are right
for you. Don’t let the plan coverage dictate your
treatment.
MYTH: A note on my explanation of benefits
indicates that my dentist’s fee is more than was
allowed by the dental plan for a procedure charging
me too much?
FACT: Your dentist is not over-charging you.
Dental plans set limits for the amount paid for
any treatment based upon a fee schedule — the
plan’s fee schedule, not your dentist’s actual
fees. The administrator will pay either a set
percentage of your dentist’s fee, or a maximum
plan benefit, which is based upon the benefit
level of your specific plan.
MYTH: My dental plan is better-able to
determine the fees for my dental needs than my
dentist.
FACT: Your dentist is educated to diagnose
and treat oral disease and promote oral health
and disease prevention. This requires a predental
degree from a college or university,
followed by a minimum of four years of dental
school. A dental specialist undertakes an
additional two to four years of training after
dental school. Your dentist is a doctor of oral
health who has taken the time to study your oral
condition and develop a treatment plan for your
specific dental needs. The cost for your care is
based on treatment recommendations that take
into account your dentist’s clinical expertise and
your specific needs and preferences.
Dental plans often limit your options through
a contract with your employer and are not based
on your individual needs. So, be sure to talk with
your dentist about your individual treatment
plan and any questions you may have about your
dental benefits.
