If you’ve just gotten dental insurance, you’re likely eager to use it. Still, you’ll have to get through dental insurance waiting periods before your costs go down. But what if you don’t know what these things are? Well, you’re in luck – your local Chardon dentist is here with an explanation. Just read it over to get the most out of your new dental plan and its benefits!
What Are Dental Insurance Waiting Periods?
In most cases, you can’t enjoy a dental plan right after buying it. You’ll only get access to the key benefits after a waiting period passes.
A dental insurance waiting period is the time that must pass before your benefits “kick in.” While it’s ongoing, your plan normally won’t cover certain dental services or treatments. This period can also vary – it may last anywhere from one month to a year. How long your own goes will depend on your plan provider and other factors.
Why Do They Even Exist?
Waiting periods for dental insurance can seem odd at first glance. However, insurance companies have a good reason for drafting them.
You see, waiting periods make financial sense for the plan providers. They keep you from buying dental insurance only when you need a lot of dental work done right away. Without them, you might choose a plan to get discounts and drop it right after treatment. That’d be unprofitable for the provider, so waiting periods have you pay for insurance even when your smile is healthy.
In a way, waiting periods are like insurance for your insurance company. They make it less expensive for a plan provider to cover your dental care.
How Do Most Waiting Periods Work?
A dental waiting period doesn’t apply to all treatments in the same way. In fact, your plan likely organizes it into three groups:
- Basic: Often, basic dental procedures – sealants, fillings, etc. – have a 3-6 month waiting period.
- Preventative: Preventative procedures normally don’t have any waiting period. As such, you could get X-rays, cleanings, and fluoride treatments without a wait.
- Major Work: “Major” procedures include dental crowns, bridges, and implants. Due to their complexity, they tend to have six-month to one-year waiting periods. That said, how a plan defines them can vary; make sure to consult it first.
If you want, you can learn more about dental insurance waiting periods. Just talk to your insurance company or dentist – they’ll gladly lay out the details for you! That way, you’ll see that these periods are a small price to pay for a healthy smile.
About the Practice
We at Hilltop Family Dental are based in Chardon, OH. Led by Dr. Robert Slezak, our practice strives to give each patient modern and family-friendly dentistry. That means we offer preventive, cosmetic, and restorative services, as well as emergency dental care when needed. Our office is also in-network with a wide range of dental insurance providers – MetLife, Delta Dental, etc. For more details or to book a visit, please reach us on our website or by phone at (440)-285-8211.