As a general rule, dental insurance is a limited reimbursement plan to assist you with your dental treatment costs. Dental insurance is based upon a contract between the insurance company and your employer. This contract determines the level of your assistance. So how could this affect you?
- You may have benefits for routine cleanings that reimburse you twice a year, yet in order to prevent disease you may require cleanings more frequently.
- You may have been treated for active periodontal disease and require ongoing supportive periodontal maintenance for disease remission, yer your insurance benefits limit the frequency of reimbursement.
- You may have been treated for active peiodontal disease and have achieved disease remission, yet your benefit for ongoing maintenance expires after two years without additional therapy.
These contract limitations often leave the patient either paying out-of-pocket for necessary services or neglecting appropriate care.
We encourage our patients to be their own advocate related to insurance limitations. Understand what you need to maintain appropriate oral health, and communicate with your human resources department when your insurance contract is not supporting your goals. You have a chance to evoke change in the next contract agreement.