To maintain good oral health, it’s important that your family keeps up good oral hygiene routines at home. However, this isn’t enough on its own. It is also crucial that each member of your family sees a dentist every six months for routine cleanings and checkups. Dental insurance is a great way to make these essential dental visits affordable and obtainable. When signing up for a dental insurance plan, you will come across some terms that you may not see every day – like “deductible.” Continue reading to learn more about deductibles and how this applies to your dental insurance plan.
What Is a Deductible?
A deductible in dental insurance is the dollar amount that you need to pay for covered dental services before your dental insurance provider begins paying their share. For the majority of plans, this monetary amount resets at the beginning of the calendar year. This amount can vary, but it is usually between $50 and $100.
How Do Deductibles Work?
You need to pay your dentist for non-preventive dental care until you meet this deductible. This will be part of the overall cost of the service. Since preventive care, like cleanings and checkups, are usually covered 100%, the deductible doesn’t usually apply to these services. It’s best to speak directly to your insurance company to determine which services are and aren’t subject to deductibles. You won’t want any surprises on your bill.
Deductibles shouldn’t be confused with your premium. Premiums are separate fees that are paid monthly regardless of whether you have a dental visit that month or not.
How Do Family Deductibles and Individual Deductibles Work?
With a family dental insurance plan, you must consider family deductibles in addition to individual deductibles. Everyone included in the plan has an individual deductible that foes toward the family deductible. For example, if a family of five people has a family deductible of $100 and each person has an individual deductible of $50, then two family members meeting their deductibles is enough to meet the family deductible. At this point, the remaining three family members don’t need to worry about their individual deductibles if they require treatment.
It’s important to note that every plan is unique, so if you have any questions of concerns, reach out to your dental team or insurance provider directly for clarification. Then, you can take advantage of a fully maximize your benefits.
About the Author
Dr. Sheh Vahid studied at Michigan State University before earning her dental doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. Later, she completed her specialty training in pediatric dentistry at the University of Michigan, becoming a board-certified pediatric dentist. Currently, she is a proud member of numerous professional organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, Southeastern Society of Pediatric Dentistry, and the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. To learn more about dental insurance or to schedule an appointment at her office in Marietta, visit her website or call (678) 498-2878.