Taking care of your teeth at home with regular brushing and flossing is a big part of keeping your smile healthy, but routine dental visits are just as important. With dental insurance, these visits can be much more manageable by reducing the cost of preventive care. While reviewing your coverage plan, you’ll likely come across the term “deductible.” Read on to learn what this is and how it works in your dental care.
What Is a Deductible?
A dental insurance deductible is the amount you’re responsible for paying toward certain covered services before your insurance begins contributing to the cost. The exact amount depends on your plan, but deductibles are often around $50 to $100 and commonly reset once a new calendar year begins. Keep in mind that the deductible may only apply to certain types of treatment. Preventive services, like routine cleanings and dental exams, are often covered without requiring you to meet the deductible first.
How Does a Deductible Work?
It’s important to know that a deductible is different from your insurance premium. Your premium is the repeated amount you pay to keep your dental insurance active, whether or not you visit the dentist that month. Other dental services might require you to pay toward your deductible before your insurance coverage kicks in, so it’s a good idea to review your specific plan or call your insurance provider ahead of treatment. Knowing what your plan covers can help you avoid unexpected costs.
What’s the Difference Between Family & Individual Deductibles?
Family dental insurance plans can work a little differently because they might include both individual and family deductibles. Each person on the plan can have their own deductible, but the amounts paid toward those individual deductibles can also count toward the family deductible. Once the family deductible has been reached, the plan can start covering services for other family members without requiring each person to meet their individual deductible first. The exact rules and amounts depend on the insurance plan, so it’s important to understand how your specific coverage is set up.
Knowing how your dental insurance works doesn’t have to be complicated. Talk with your dental team and insurance provider so that they can help you make a treatment plan that works with your budget.
About the Practice
At Healthy Smiles Dental, our team believes understanding your dental insurance shouldn’t be overwhelming. Led by Dr. Michael Tabbah and Dr. Kyle Douglas, we’re proud to help patients make sense of terms like deductibles so they can get the most out of their benefits. Whether you have questions about your coverage or you’re ready to schedule your next visit, our friendly team is here to help. Visit our website or give us a call at (508) 894-8100 to schedule your appointment today.