When it comes to paying for your oral healthcare needs, you may wonder what the difference is between medical and dental insurance. Both are designed to cover healthcare costs, but you may not realize there are clear distinctions between the two – the kind that can have you saving more when visiting your dentist for regular checkups or complex care. Keep reading to discover the differences between the two and how to maximize your available benefits.
What Makes Medical Insurance Different Than Dental Insurance?
Many individuals struggle to understand why it’s necessary to differentiate between medical and dental insurance. They each require a separate plan, covering different aspects of care, but why are two separate types of insurance necessary?
Medical Insurance
Medical insurance is commonly used as a form of reactionary savings. When reviewing your plan, you’ll find that wellness visits to your primary care professional (PCP) offer minimal savings. However, should you require hospitalization because of illness or injury, you can expect your medical insurance provider to pay more for the care you need.
Of course, you must first meet your deductible before they agree to cover more of the cost, but the main goal of medical insurance is to aid in the coverage of unexpected expenses.
Dental Insurance
Dental insurance, on the other hand, is designed to help you save more on preventive care. Decay, damage, and infection can emerge quickly and if left untreated or undetected, it can lead to worsening problems that affect oral and overall health.
With dental insurance, these companies offer the greatest level of savings (80-100%) for preventive services, such as dental checkups and cleanings, fluoride treatment, dental X-rays, dental sealants, and more.
How to Maximize Dental Benefits
If you want to make sure that you’re getting the most out of your dental insurance plan, you’ll want to find ways to maximize your available benefits. This can include:
- Maintaining regular dental checkups and cleanings with your dentist, as this will cost you little to nothing out of pocket.
- Not putting off more complex restorative care, especially if you’ve already met your deductible. Once you meet this specific amount, your insurer will pay more for the care you receive (based on how much of your annual maximum remains).
- Inquiring about additional ways to take better care of your benefits before they expire at the end of the year, as most plans are only good for 12 months.
Don’t make the mistake of disregarding dental insurance because you think your medical coverage will take care of the cost. By taking the time to research your options, you can find a plan that offers the benefits you need and will help you save on all your oral healthcare costs.
About Grand Dental – Franklin Park
At Grand Dental – Franklin Park, our dentists understand how costly oral healthcare can be. This is why we are pleased to welcome your dental insurance and have experts on staff who will review your plan and help you take advantage of your benefits. We make the process as stress-free as possible, so you can focus more on your smile as opposed to the bill that comes with taking care of it. If you have questions about your dental insurance, visit our website or call (847) 860-7093.