You know you have dental benefits, so you might think you don’t have to worry about anything else. But are you using those benefits to meet your family’s needs? Do you know what your plan covers and what your deductible is? Here are our tips to organizing dental insurance:
Find a Dentist
The first step in organizing and using your benefits is to find a Delta Dental dentist. The “Find a Dentist” tool on our website can help you find a dentist that meets specific needs, like being close to work or your child’s school, having evening and weekend hours, or specializing in treating kids. Talking to people you trust, like family and neighbors, can also lead to a recommendation. Reading online ratings and reviews might help you make a decision, too.
Make a checklist
Create a list of preventive services you need and follow through with making appointments. You should visit the dentist at least once a year for cleanings and checkups. If you find out you’ll need additional dental work, like fillings or crowns, don’t wait—schedule those appointments right away.
Get to know your coverage
When planning treatment and procedures, it’s important to know what costs your benefits cover. Are you part of a Premier or PPO plan? What’s your deductible? What about your annual maximum?
Most plans cover a percentage of procedures up to a specific dollar amount. Review your benefits contract so you know what’s taken care of, and use our online “Cost Estimator” tool (available under PPO plans) to receive an estimate on specific procedures based on dentist fees in your area. You should also familiarize yourself with insurance terms that you may see or hear.
Having dental benefits is important, but organizing and actually using your dental insurance is critical in maintaining oral health.
