Confused about dental insurance? You are not alone! Today Dr. Kuiper will give us the basics on dental insurance and how you can maximize your dental benefits each year!

Dental insurance is a great benefit for those of you that have it but it is worth knowing that it is very different from health insurance. Dental insurance is basically a maintenance plan: insurance companies will give you a defined annual maximum (usually ranging from $1000 - $2000) for your dental care each year and they will cover specific percentages of dental treatment up to that yearly maximum. It’s almost the opposite of health insurance where you pay for things up front and then once you reach your out of pocket maximum, insurance will cover the rest. Dental insurance will pay for a certain amount and if you go over that amount, you are responsible for the rest. The benefit "resets" each year, so if you don't use your benefit before the year ends then you lose out on any remaining money. Insurance companies may cover exams, cleanings, and x-rays at 100%, which is great for people who come to the dentist regularly and are on that maintenance plan. Coverage does get a little sticky, however, when you get into bigger treatment plans because of the yearly maximum. Dental insurance benefits haven’t gone up since the 1960s, which means that $1000 today doesn’t cover nearly as much as it did back then! Although your dental benefits will certainly help, it is important for those who need extensive dental work to recognize that you’re most likely going to pay out of pocket for your treatment. 

Our team is really good at helping maximize your benefits and determining what your specific benefits are in order to get you the highest quality dentistry at an affordable price. We are always here to answer your questions! If you’d like to learn more about dental insurance, give us a call today!

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