Understanding Dental Health Benefits - Dentalcare Associates

Dental insurance can be confusing, and it's not exactly like medical health insurance. But if you have a plan through your employer or the insurance marketplace, understanding some basics about your coverage can help you reduce the cost of dental health services. At Dentalcare Associates, we work with you to file claims and provide payment options to help ensure you can fit necessary oral care into your budget.

Why You Should Put Dental Insurance To Work

Most dental insurance plans cover two visits to the dentist — as well as cleanings — each year. Insurance companies do this because it's a good investment; people who take care of their teeth and get regular checkups are at less risk for expensive dental issues. Since you're already paying for your benefits, take advantage of covered cleanings and other services. The staff at Dentalcare Associates can help you understand whether your insurance is accepted and what it pays for.

Minimizing Out-Of-Pocket Expenses

Dental insurance can cover a range of procedures and treatments including fillings, crowns, root canals, veneers, extractions, and orthodontic treatment. But depending on the plan, they only cover these procedures at a certain percent, which varies by the policy. Also, most plans come with annual maximum that require you to pay out of pocket after you have reached that yearly amount. For example, let’s say your annual maximum is $1000 and you need a $1200 crown that is covered by your insurance at 50%. Your insurance company would pay $600 and you would be responsible for the other $600. If in the same calendar year, you need another crown that is covered at 50%, your insurance company would only cover $400 and you would then be responsible for $800. This is because you have reached your annual maximum of $1000 for by doing two crowns in the same calendar year.

Dentalcare Associates can work with you to better understand your insurance plan and the best way to maximize on your insurance benefits per calendar year, but remember—benefits do not roll over to the following year so if you don’t use them, you lose them!

Benefits Vary For Dental Care Services

It's important to note that different insurance plans cover different types of dental services. Dentalcare Associates charges the same fees to all patients for similar services, and we work with you and your insurance company to reduce the chance of billing surprises. Our goal is to ensure you have plenty of time to plan for any dental care expenses that might not be covered by your insurance company.

Inflation: It seems everything becomes more expensive from one year to the next, and dental materials and equipment are no exception. Putting off necessary dental care could mean that you'll have to pay more down the road.

Dental Problems Escalate: If your pearly whites are anything but, they're only going to get worse. That is, of course, unless you take advantage of your insurance benefits and tend to your teeth and gums. A little cavity that isn't bothering you one year may become a major headache (or toothache!) the next.

We are a preferred provider with the following dental insurance plans:

Delta Dental
Cigna
Aetna
Metlife
Horizon BC/BS

We also work closely with most commercial insurance companies and union benefit plans including:

Sheet Metal Workers Local 22
United Healthcare
United States Life
Lincoln Financial Group
United Concordia
Connecticut General
UMR
Plumbers and Pipefitters Local Union 9

Schedule An Appointment Today

Don't wait to schedule an appointment with Dentalcare Associates. Dental problems don't typically go away on their own, and catching issues sooner can mean easier — and less costly — treatment. Contact us online or call the Scotch Plains, NJ, office at 908-322-7800 to make an appointment.

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