Tag: dental insurance

Dental-Plans

My Employer Changed Dental Plans, Now What?

Nobody likes dealing with insurance companies, but employers are always looking to get a better deal on their insurance, so it’s not out of the ordinary for us to hear that someone’s employer changed their coverage options. So what should you do in the event your dental plan changes? We can help.

For starters, it’s our goal at Smile for Life Dental to help as many patients as we can, so we do as much as possible to accept as many different types of insurance plans as we can. We also try to keep our prices low, so that if you’re not offered dental protection or you choose not to carry dental insurance, paying your bill won’t be like pulling teeth.

Questions About Changing Dental Insurance

There are a couple of ways to learn more about your insurance coverage. For starters, calling the number on the back of your insurance card is probably the best bet, as they can share with you a list of providers or determine if a certain dentist is in your coverage network. Another great resource is your human resources department. Finally, we will do our best to answer any questions you might have, but we may not have all the answers. We can tell you what types of insurance we accept, but we won’t know the extent of your coverage.

If, during the open enrollment period, you find that your old dental care options are no longer available, you probably want to do some more research to determine which plan is best for you and your family. For reference, here’s a list of questions provided by the American Dental Association. Ask yourself these questions, and based on your answers, you may be able to determine which plan is best for you. Some sample questions include:

  • Does the dental plan allow you to pick your own dentist?
  • Will the plan allow you to stay with your current dental provider?
  • What type of routine and major dental care do you expect to need?
  • How are specialists covered under your new plan?
  • Is emergency treatment covered?
  • What is the max out-of-pocket limit?

Again, these questions just help to determine which necessities you’ll want to have, and which luxuries you can afford to skip. Importance will vary from family to family, but the majority of patients are most concerned about which providers are in network, and if they’ll be able to keep their dentist. If you have questions about whether a provider is in or out of network, look on the insurance company’s website to see if they list their providers, or contact them directly, as they’ll know exactly who is and who isn’t in network.

We never want to surprise you with a bill, so we’ll help as much as possible when it comes to dealing with your insurance company and figuring out your coverage. For more information, or to set up your next appointment, contact Dr. Brooks’ office today.

Dental Insurance

4 Tips for Finding the Right Dental Insurance

Shopping around for dental insurance can be frustrating. With so many factors to consider, how do you pick the best plan for yourself and your family? Our goal is to help you understand your insurance. Remember that dental insurance is not designed to cover all of your needs. Dental insurance is more of a supplement than a true insurance and the benefits are limited to typically $1000 to $2000 a year and not carried over year to year. It is an agreement between the employer (or patient if an individual plan) and insurance company.  As a provider we don’t have control over what the insurance will pay. We want our patients to know our goal is to recommend and provide quality dental care but insurance may not pay for all your needs.  In this article, we are going to offer a handful of tips for finding the right dental insurance to fit your needs.

Services Covered

The first thing you should look at is what services are covered under your policy. Exams? Routine checkups and cleanings? X-rays? Another thing to consider is what services do you plan on using? This can help guide you through the various policies available to you. Be sure you understand what exactly your policy covers and at what percentage.

Pre-Existing Conditions

Be sure to check your policy to see if there is a pre-existing conditions clause. This could make the cost of your dental care more expensive than you were anticipating.

In-Network Providers

If you already have a dentist or clinic that you like, make sure they are an in-network provider. Visiting out of network providers can increase your dental costs.

Waiting Periods

Some dental insurance policies have waiting periods for certain procedures like bridges and crowns. Check to see if your policy has waiting periods for any such procedures.

Minnesota Dental Clinics

At Smiles for Life, we’re happy to talk with you through any dental insurance questions you might have. We’re here to make your dental visit as painless as possible! Finding the right dentist is important for your overall dental health. Dr. Tim Brooks has many years of experience as a family and cosmetic dentist, serving patients throughout Minnesota. At Smiles for Life, we provide compassionate care to each and every patient we treat. Contact us today at Smiles for Life Dental to set up your appointment with Dr. Brooks. We have dental clinics in Bloomington and Farmington, but provide treatment to patients throughout the Twin Cities and greater Minnesota.