If you have dental benefits here are some things you should know.
At Riverwalk Dentistry we believe that you deserve the best care. We will present you a number of different treatment options tailored to your personal situation. Each year we provide outstanding care to hundreds of patients.
Some have dental benefits but most do not. If you have dental benefits, here are some important things you should know:
Your dental benefits are based upon a contract made between your employer and an employee benefits company. If you have questions regarding your dental benefits please contact your employer or the benefits company directly.
Dental benefits differ greatly from medical benefits. In 1959, most dental benefit plans had a yearly maximum cap of $1,000. You will be surprised to know today that the average dental benefit plan has a yearly maximum cap of $1,000. There has been no significant increase in the yearly maximum cap in over 40 years. However, there have been significant increases in your premiums. Dental benefit plans may not pay for all of your dental care. It has always been meant to assist you.
Many people receive notification from their insurance company that dental fees are "above usual and customary". A dental benefits company determines their reimbursement level by surveying a geographical area, calculation the average fee, then determines that 80% of the average fee is customary. Included in this survey are discount dental clinics and managed care facilities, which have severely reduced dental fees that bring down the average. Any doctor in private practice will have fees that dental benefits companies define as "higher than usual and customary".
Many dental benefit plans tell their participants that they will be covered "up to 80% or 100%", but do not clearly specify the plan fee schedule allowance, annual maximum or limitations. It is more realistic to expect dental benefit plans to cover 25% to 40% of dental services. Remember that the amount a plan reimburses is determined by how much your employer has paid for your dental benefit plan.p
Dental benefit companies do not cover many routine and newer dental services.p
If you have dental benefits, we will, as a courtesy to you, process your insurance benefits in our office. Excellent dental care is available with or without dental benefits. We hope that you chose the best that dentistry has to offer.
