Organize & Use Your Dental Insurance
By Jill Feilmeier on January 27, 2015 in Insurance
You know you have dental insurance, so you might think you don’t have to worry about anything else. But are you using those insurance benefits to meet your family’s needs? Do you know what your plan covers and what your deductible is? Check out these tips to make the most of your dental insurance:
Find a dentist
The first step in using your dental benefits is to find a dentist that accepts your Delta Dental insurance. The “Find a Provider” tool on the Delta Dental website can help you find a dentist that meets your specific needs, such as a convenient location near your work or home, having early or evening hours, or specializing in treating kids. Talking to your family, friends and neighbors is a good way to get recommendations. You can also search for online ratings and reviews to help you make a decision.
Make a checklist
Create a list of preventive services you need and schedule your appointment. You should visit the dentist at least once a year, ideally twice a year, for cleanings and checkups. If you find that you’ll need additional dental work, like fillings or crowns, don’t wait—schedule those appointments right away.
Get to know your coverage
When planning treatment and procedures, it’s important to know what costs your benefits cover. Are you part of a Delta Dental Premier® or PPOTM plan? What about your deductible or annual maximum?
Most plans cover a percentage of procedures up to a specific dollar amount. Review your benefit contract so you know what’s taken care of and use our online “Cost Estimator” tool to receive an estimate on specific procedures based on dentist fees in your area. You should also familiarize yourself with insurance terms that you may see or hear.
Dental Insurance Bonus: At Delta Dental, we want you to make your preventive dental appointments. When you get regular checkups and cleanings, you can reduce your dental risk for more costly services. Plus, most preventive services such as exams, cleanings and x-rays are usually covered at 100 percent with little to no cost to you!
Having dental benefits is important but actually using your dental insurance is critical in maintaining oral health.
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