As 2024 is hurrying toward its conclusion, you might be thinking about shopping for insurance policies in the new year. If you are interested in purchasing a dental plan, you might have run across some unfamiliar terms, including “deductible.” What exactly are deductibles for dental insurance, and what are some important details that you should know about them? This blog post explains.
What Is a Deductible?
Basically, a deductible is the amount of money that you must pay to your dentist out of your own pocket each year before your insurance coverage kicks in. Here is an example: Your policy might cover 80% of a service that costs $300 total. If your deductible is $50, you will have to pay that plus 20% of the remaining balance. Therefore, your out-of-pocket obligation would come to $100.
Here are a few important points to keep in mind about deductibles:
- Deductibles are a common feature of PPO plans, but not usually DHMO plans.
- You only have to pay your deductible once each year.
- Dental insurance deductibles can vary from plan to plan, but they are often in the range of $50 – $100.
- Deductibles tend to apply regardless of whether you see an in-network or out of network dentist. However, overall fees are usually lower at in-network practices.
Individual and Family Deductibles
If more than one person is covered by your insurance plan, you might have an individual deductible and a family deductible.
To understand how that might work, imagine that your individual deductible is $50, and your family deductible is $150. If you, your spouse, and one of your kids undergo treatment, you will each have to pay $50 before your coverage kicks in. In total, your three individual deductibles will amount to $150. Since that equals the family deductible, any additional people on your plan, such as a second child, will not have to pay any deductible at all.
Are Any Services Exempt from Deductibles?
A handful of insurance companies do not charge a deductible for certain services. For example, preventive care, such as exams, cleanings, and X-rays, may be 100% covered with no additional fees. You may be able to receive vital basic care without paying a dime out of pocket!
Dental insurance terminology is not always easy to understand. If you would like to learn more about how the deductible for your unique policy works, your local dental practice may be able to assist you.
Meet the Practice
At All Dental in Westborough, our team is happy to accept more than 200 dental insurance plans, including some from Aetna, BlueCross BlueShield, Guardian, and other popular companies. We are experts at navigating the ins and outs of insurance, and we are happy to share our knowledge with patients. To learn more about how we may be able to serve you, contact our friendly staff at 508-217-7265.