Dental insurance benefits can cause a great deal of frustration for dental patients. Some of the confusing components of dental insurance are explained below.

UCR (Usual, Customary, Reasonable)

UCR is the maximum amount your insurance plan will pay for a procedure. It is based upon a percentage formula set by the individual insurance company. The patient is responsible for the costs above the UCR level.

Preferred Providers

Your plan may encourage you to go to a dentist on it’s list of preferred providers. Some plans allow you to see any dentist you would like, regardless of whether the dentist is on the list. However, your benefits may be different when you visit an out of network dentist.

Pre-Existing Conditions

Some dental insurance plans do not cover conditions that existed prior to enrollment. One example is a “missing tooth clause” which will not pay for the replacement of a tooth that was missing prior to the beginning of coverage.

Frequency Limitations

Some plans set limits on certain procedures and those procedures may not be covered by your insurance as often as they are dentally necessary. One common example is only allowing for sealants once in the lifetime of the existing policy when sealants generally only last three to seven years. Other patients may need dental cleanings more than the two times per year that their plan allows.

Deductibles/Percentage Covered

Most plans have a deductible amount which the patient pays before any benefits begin. This is a one-time fee each benefit year. In addition, insurance plans set a percentage of costs they will cover for each type of treatment. For example, an insurance company may cover 100% of preventive work (exams,cleanings,etc), 80% of basic restorations like fillings and 50% of major restorations like crowns based on their UCR.

Yearly Maximums

Almost all plans have an annual maximum benefit and many times this amount is as low as $1,000 up to $3,000. Patients are often surprised to learn this maximum includes the amount the insurance company will pay for preventive check-ups as well. Your plan will not pay more than this set amount in any given benefit year. Patients are responsible for charges above this maximum.

Treatment Exclusion/Wait Periods

Certain plans will not cover some procedures, such as sealants, implants and orthodontics. Dental plans may also place a waiting period on some procedures. For instance, your plan may require you to wait six months to a year for a crown to be covered service.

Alternative Treatment

Often dental insurance plans will only cover the least expensive treatment possible. For example, many plans only cover the cost of mercury amalgam silver fillings instead of tooth-colored composite fillings. The insurance company will pay its set UCR for an amalgam filling and the patient will pay the difference between the cost of the amalgam and the cost of a composite filling. Another example is a ceramic inlay/onlay may be optional in many situations, but an insurance company may only pay for an amalgam filling. The least exspensive alternative treatment may not be the best choice for optimal dental health. Patients need to choose what is best based upon their needs, not their insurance coverage.

Get the Care You Need

When considering all of this information, it is important to remember that you may need dental care that falls outside of your plan benefits or at a time when you have reached your maximum allowance. In order to avoid future dental complications that could require more extensive (and exspensive) treatment later, patients always need to make decisions that are in the best interest of their dental health and seek treatment in a timely fashion.