Visions of sugarplums may dance in your head this season, but the overindulgence of sweets can lead to a visit to the dentist. It’s a good time to talk about what procedures dental insurance covers in Hamden.
January is when those bills come due. The presents, the travel, the cavities. While the busiest month of the year for dentists tends to be August, January through March would be an ideal time to take care of your smile.
Most insurance policies allow for an annual cleaning, check-up, and x-rays. You may have already gotten a reminder that your next visit is due. Make sure that you are within your annual window before scheduling so that you’re covered completely.
Basic services, like those you may need after having that tray of Aunt Sue’s Christmas cookies, fillings, simple extractions, and more extensive cleanings usually cover 80% of the bill.
Major services, root canals, bridges, crowns, and dentures only generally cover 50% of the final bill.
Then we need to talk about waiting periods, copays, deductibles and annual maximums.
Waiting Period:
Some new policies require a waiting period of six months to a year before you can benefit from the coverage for basic and major services.
CoPays and Deductibles:
Some services may be assigned a flat fee or you may have an out of pocket deductible before your insurance kicks in.
Annual Maximums:
Your policy may only allow a certain amount per year. If you are looking to get new dentures but need to have a root canal, that 50% may only cover one of the procedures, meaning you are out of pocket.
Your policy may also require you to go within a network of dentists and if you go outside of that network, you may be faced with additional fees.
You should also understand what may not be covered:
- Cosmetic procedures, like teeth whitening
- Pre-existing conditions, like missing or broken teeth that you had before your coverage for basic and major procedure could start
- Even orthodontics may not be covered.
Even though dental implants may be covered under your plan, the annual maximum may mean that only one implant is paid for by the coverage.
Is there an answer you may ask? Many companies provide Health Savings Accounts. If you know that you are going to need new dentures, or some sort of procedure in the future that is considered “medical care”, these accounts are non taxable ways to save money to pay for the procedure.
Here in Hamden we participate in most private dental insurance plans. Check with us to see if we are in your network.
The health of your mouth is important to us so give us a call at (203) 248-0011 and talk to our staff about what options you have to keep your smile covered.