When it comes to figuring out the details of your dental insurance plan, the complicated jargon and seemingly endless time spent on the phone with insurance staff can make it difficult and frustrating. Fortunately, when you’re working with your dental team to get dental implants in Manchester, they’ll also be able to help you figure out how much of your treatment will be covered by your benefits. To learn more about your insurance coverage and whether you’ll be required to pay for your dental implant treatment out-of-pocket, continue reading below.
How Does Dental Insurance Work?
Dental insurance is very different from medical insurance, which is why some people have a hard time understanding how it works, because they expect the two to be similar. They typically have a much smaller deductible that averages about $50, and their annual maximum is relatively low, typically between $1,000 and $2,000. At the end of the year, your dental insurance plan’s benefits will reset along with your deductible. This means that if you reach your maximum before the year’s up, you’ll be required to pay out-of-pocket for any treatments you receive from that point on.
What Types of Treatments Does Dental Insurance Cover?
Dental insurance plans are designed to get patients to prevent serious oral health problems by receiving regular preventive dental care. As a result, they rarely cover the full cost of any treatment that’s not under the preventive umbrella, which typically only includes checkups and cleanings for adults.
While no two plans are identical, most insurance companies determine coverage based on a 100-80-50 structure. This means that they cover 100 percent of preventive treatments like checkups and cleanings, 80 percent of basic treatments like tooth-colored fillings, and 50 percent of more complex care like dentures or tooth extractions.
Will Your Dental Insurance Cover Dental Implants?
Because every dental insurance plan can vary, it’s always worthwhile to reach out to your insurance provider directly to learn whether they will pay for at least a portion of the cost of your dental implant treatment, because they won’t cover it completely. This can include paying for a portion of your dental restoration that will be attached to your implants, like your crown, bridge, or denture. Other than this, it’s likely that you’ll require additional financing or need to save up in order to pay for the remainder of the service.
The great part about getting dental implants is that the process occurs over the course of several months and different small treatments, which makes it easier to foot the bill. In some cases, this makes it so patients don’t even need to apply for third-party financing. However, the best way to learn whether that’s the case for you is to speak with your dental team and go over what your journey will look like. They can help you sort out the details and make sure moving forward with treatment is a decision that you feel confident in!
About the Author
Dr. Mohammad Golparvar has over two decades of experience in the dental field, as well as advanced training in dental implant treatment through earning his Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study. As an Assistant Clinical Professor at Boston University School of Dental Medicine, he also remains up-to-date with the latest advancements in his field and shares that knowledge with future generations of dentists. Striving to make dental implant treatment as accessible as possible, Dr. Golparvar is proud to be in-network with a number of insurance plans. For questions or to schedule a consultation, visit Webster Dental Associates of Manchester’s website or call 603-669-4252.