Dental Insurance Articles
How To Avoid Common Dental Insurance Scams By Knowing What To Look For
2010-10-13
Health care costs are rising rapidly, and that means the cost of quality health insurance is rising also. For most people, dental insurance is not a priority especially for those who do not visit a dentist regularly. In fact, a good dental insurance policy can be a real benefit if chosen carefully. Dental insurance scams are out there, but are not always easy so spot. Here is what to look for if you are considering buying dental insurance.
The cost of the policy is not always a good indicator of the level of coverage, but that is the place to start. Get the costs for basic coverage and find out what basic coverage is. If you are comfortable with that, the next thing to check out is whether the policy you are considering is a scheduled or a comprehensive dental insurance plan. The difference is important.
A scheduled plan will pay a predetermined amount for every required procedure. The cost for those procedures varies from provider to provider, so get a quote if possible. Sometimes the covered amount, together with your monthly premium, is not nearly enough to cover the actual bill for the services. Comprehensive policies pay a yearly or lifetime benefit maximum for all covered procedures. The percentage of the bill that your policy covers will range from about 65 to 80 percent, until a predetermined limit is reached. Comprehensive is better if you can find it. Some policies claim to be comprehensive but are not; find out for sure. If a policy claims to be a "comprehensive scheduled" policy, beware. There is no such thing.
Another way to avoid dental insurance scams is to learn about the policy details regarding pre-existing conditions. Often, unscrupulous insurers will imply that all routine and some other specifically identified procedures are covered and then refuse to pay because the condition that required those services already existed when the policy was purchased. This can be a tricky area if not addressed carefully before purchasing your dental insurance. You can be confident that you are getting the coverage that you need if you know what questions to ask, and most importantly, get the answers in writing. Find out for sure what your carrier considers to be a pre-existing condition and compare that with your dental history. A condition cannot be pre-existing if you have not been previously treated for it, even if you consulted with your doctor about it.
Finally, check out the rating of the insurance company. There are many online sources for learning about the payment history and overall rating of the company. It is easy to do and will help you avoid the most common dental insurance scams.