Dental Insurance Articles
How A Lapse In Insurance Affects Dental Insurance Options
2012-01-17
A majority of people get dental insurance through an employer as it is commonly bundled in with a regular health insurance plan. Losing that job also means the loss of the insurance, unless the individual opts into COBRA. Not obtaining the additional insurance coverage creates a lapse in coverage that is not going to go unnoticed by the next dental insurance coverage. This lapse creates issues for the individual who has a need for dental care, especially after they get a new policy.
The chances are good that the next dental insurance policy is going to put the individual into a waiting period before the insurance takes effect. An increase in the premium should also be expected, as the insurance company makes assumptions that the individual has not seen a dentist during the lapse in coverage.
These two issues occur because the insurance company is going to take the stance that the individual has not been seeing to his dental health during the coverage gap. Many people do not go and visit the dentist when they are not covered because they cannot afford the cost of treatment. One visit to the dentist can cost thousands of dollars, money that an individual who is unemployed most likely does not have to spend.
Waiting to get dental insurance again after a lapse in coverage is going to hurt the individual. People usually wait to get covered again before they see the dentist, which results in more dental work to be done. The burden of the cost then falls on the insurance company. While the dental insurance is there to cover the work, it is not intended to be used as a fall back when the individual slacks off on their dental work. As a result, the insurance company puts restrictions down to prevent a sudden drain on its finances.
The dental insurance company is going to implement restrictions after a lapse in coverage. One is a waiting period, where the individual pays their premium for so many months before he can see a dentist. Some companies cover emergencies during the waiting period but may have a lower coverage because of the restrictions. Coverage may also not be in full effect after the waiting period is up. The individual is going to be restricted to coverage of preventative maintenance and other minimal cost procedures for up to a year. After the specified period of restrictions has passed, the individual can receive full benefits from his insurance and breathe easy in the case of an expensive procedure.
Always keep dental insurance current, even if it is through COBRA. Not having a lapse in coverage is beneficial when resuming standard dental insurance again.