Dental insurance is notorious for being wishy-washy when it comes to cosmetic dentistry. Some policies will cover a small amount, some will cover more. Some policies won't cover many of these procedures at all. However, there are still options available to you:
The Gray Area Between Cosmetic Dentistry and Insurance
Occasionally, there's a bit of a gray area when you receive cosmetic dental treatments as a solution to an issue that can impact your oral health. For example, you may need implants to help you with a jaw issue. This skirts the line between what the insurance company may consider restorative as opposed to purely cosmetic.
Another gray area comes with whom you visit for your cosmetic treatments. Some insurance carriers have special provisions for seeing a specialist. So if you're going to see an actual orthodontist as opposed to receiving orthodontic treatments from a non-orthodontist, you may pay less.
Check Over Your Dental Insurance Options
These things all vary by insurance type and insurance carrier. They also vary by your own insurance option choices. If you're using insurance from your job, it's possible that you had a choice between minimum coverage or a more robust option during open enrollment.
If you chose the minimum package, you're stuck with what you have for a year. If there was an auto accept option, or you let your coverage default to what you had the previous year, you may not even know there are other choices available to you.
For these reasons and more you need to pay attention to dental coverage. There's nothing like finding out at the front desk of the dentist office that your insurance only covers 15% of the overall cost. Even if your insurance doesn't cover everything or a good chunk of the price, there are still other options.
Try Asking the Dentist if There are Other Options
Surprisingly, some dentists can work magic on your behalf. One secret of insurance is that the percentage it pays on your behalf is based on their list of prices for specific procedures. In some cases, the dentist can negotiate with them for you to help you pay a lower out-of-pocket price.
In addition, many dentists offer payment plans or can direct you to a third-party that does. Some will just outright defer payment(s) until a later date. These are professionals and they usually serve their communities for a long time. They often have no problem with working with you in trying to figure out how to leverage your insurance or how to figure out other ways to pay.
Even if you check with your insurance company and see that they flat-out won't cover something or other, it still doesn't hurt to ask the dentist. Remember, the dentist wants your business, and will try to make it as financially feasible for you as he or she can. To learn more, contact a professional like James Tritton DDS PC.
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