{"id":13,"date":"2020-09-25T16:02:09","date_gmt":"2020-09-25T16:02:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aguilar-dentistry.com\/blog\/?p=13"},"modified":"2020-10-26T18:26:33","modified_gmt":"2020-10-26T18:26:33","slug":"tips-for-understanding-dental-insurance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aguilar-dentistry.com\/blog\/2020\/09\/25\/tips-for-understanding-dental-insurance\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Tips for Understanding Your Dental Insurance"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.aguilar-dentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Dentist_explaining_dental_insurance_to_patients__.jpg\" alt=\"Dentist explaining dental insurance to patients\" class=\"wp-image-14\" width=\"289\" height=\"192\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.aguilar-dentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Dentist_explaining_dental_insurance_to_patients__.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.aguilar-dentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Dentist_explaining_dental_insurance_to_patients__-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.aguilar-dentistry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Dentist_explaining_dental_insurance_to_patients__-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 289px) 100vw, 289px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>To keep your teeth and gums in tip-top shape, it is crucial to visit your dentist every six months for a dental checkup and professional cleaning. However, the exam alone can range anywhere between $50 and $300, and that doesn\u2019t include X-rays or fluoride treatments. Fortunately, that\u2019s where <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aguilar-dentistry.com\/dental-insurance.html\">dental insurance<\/a> comes in! If you are not familiar with your policy, here are four tips to help!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">#1. Learn the Basic Terms<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>Benefit period<\/strong> \u2013 This is the time between your \u201ceffective date\u201d and the \u201cend date.\u201d If you do not renew before your end date, you will no longer have coverage.<\/li><li><strong>Co<\/strong><strong>-payment<\/strong> \u2013 This is typically a flat fee per visit\/treatment that the patient is responsible for paying.<\/li><li><strong>Coinsurance <\/strong>\u2013 This is a percentage that the patient is required to pay after the insurance company has paid their portion.<\/li><li><strong>Deductible <\/strong>\u2013 Like homeowner\u2019s insurance, a deductible on your dental plan is the amount you must pay out of pocket before your insurance company pays for any treatments.<\/li><li><strong>Maximum<\/strong> \u2013 Your annual maximum is the amount your plan will cover in your benefit period. On the other hand, your lifetime maximum refers to the dollar amount your insurance provider will ever cover toward the cost of treatment.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">#2. Utilize \u201c100-80-50\u201d Coverage<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Although every policy is different, dental insurance plans are usually all centered around preventive care. So, don\u2019t be surprised to see the sequence \u201c100-80-50\u201d across your paperwork. This refers to 100% of diagnostic services (like checkups and cleanings), 80% of basic procedures, and 50% of major treatments being covered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">#3. \u201cOut of Network\u201d Does Not Mean \u201cOut of Coverage\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In the medical world, \u201cout of network\u201d does translate to \u201cout of coverage.\u201d However, when it comes to dental insurance, the term \u201cout of network\u201d may mean that coverage is still available, but that your insurance provider will contribute a lower percentage. In fact, sometimes the price difference between using an in-network and out of network provider is relatively nominal!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">#4. Don\u2019t Hesitate to Ask for Help<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If attempting to decipher the paperwork is giving you a headache, then don\u2019t hesitate to ask for help from your insurance provider or your dental team. Both parties handle dental plans on a daily basis, so they are highly knowledgeable and are happy to help you better understand your plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dental insurance plays a crucial role in making dental care affordable. That way, you can achieve pristine oral health without worrying about a hefty bill at the end of your visit!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the Author<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>After completing his undergraduate degree at Boston College in Chestnut Hills, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aguilar-dentistry.com\/meet-the-dentist.html\">Dr. Jonathan Aguilar<\/a> earned his dental doctorate at Texas A&amp;M College of Dentistry. Today, he uses his extensive experience, advanced training, and genuine passion for his craft to help his patients achieve optimal oral health and gorgeous smiles. If you have additional questions about your dental insurance, don\u2019t hesitate to visit his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aguilar-dentistry.com\/contact.html\">website<\/a> or give him a call at <strong>940-566-5332<\/strong>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>To keep your teeth and gums in tip-top shape, it is crucial to visit your dentist every six months for a dental checkup and professional cleaning. However, the exam alone can range anywhere between $50 and $300, and that doesn\u2019t include X-rays or fluoride treatments. Fortunately, that\u2019s where dental insurance comes in! If you are [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aguilar-dentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aguilar-dentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aguilar-dentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aguilar-dentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aguilar-dentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.aguilar-dentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21,"href":"https:\/\/www.aguilar-dentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13\/revisions\/21"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.aguilar-dentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aguilar-dentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.aguilar-dentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}