Taking care of your overall health usually means enrolling in a health insurance policy that will ease the financial burden of any eligible services you receive. But what you may not realize is that while your smile is considered part of whole-body wellness, the treatments it requires are unlikely to be covered by your traditional health insurance plan. What is the difference between medical and dental insurance? Keep reading to discover the details of both and how you can save money with regular, preventive care.
What is the Purpose of Medical Insurance?
Medical insurance is designed to assist in lowering the expenses associated with illnesses and injuries that have already occurred.
When looking at your plan, you’ll find there is available coverage (in most cases) for wellness visits, hospitalizations, specialists, lab testing, and more. You’ll also notice that wellness appointments tend to provide the least amount of coverage because it is considered a preventive solution, not a reactive one.
Most patients are unlikely to seek medical attention unless a problem already exists. This is why these plans are crafted to deliver the greatest level of coverage for the most complex and extreme injuries and illnesses.
What is the Purpose of Dental Insurance?
Dental insurance is vastly different in that these plans emphasize the importance of preventive care. With many insurance companies offering 80-100% coverage for two dental checkups and cleanings each year, it not only lowers your out-of-pocket costs but also helps keep your smile healthy year-round.
Minor and major restorative services (i.e., dental fillings, dental crowns, root canals, tooth extractions, dentures, etc.) are usually covered at 50-80% depending on their classification within the insurer’s benefit plan.
What is the Most Effective Way to Save Money?
Although some dental procedures can be covered under medical insurance (i.e., oral appliance therapy for sleep apnea, TMJ-related solutions, etc.), the majority of claims should be filed with your dental insurer.
This will ensure that you get the most out of your plan for the services you receive. If your dentist is in-network with multiple insurance providers, you’ll save even more over time because of the contracted agreement they have to keep fees low for patients.
Avoid the need for restorative care and instead, keep more money in your pocket. You’ll find that by seeing your dentist twice each year for exams and checkups and using your dental insurance to help with the bill, your smile will last longer and remain healthier.
About the Author
Dr. Kai Lei is a board-certified periodontist who works closely with patients to create healthier teeth and gums for a lifetime. As an in-network professional with countless insurance plans, we make it our goal to provide affordable services that make it possible for patients to save on high-quality, life-changing dentistry. If you want to save money on your next visit, contact us at (925) 420-8062.