If you have both a medical and dental insurance policy, you might wonder why you need both. The truth is that these types of insurance cover separate things, and they work quite differently. In this blog post, you will learn about some key differences between these types of coverage. Hopefully, the information here will help you use your benefits in the most advantageous way possible!
What Do They Cover?
Medical insurance focuses on protecting your head-to-toe wellness. It covers preventive care through your primary care practitioner, as well as treatments for a broad range of conditions. However, it generally does not cover preventive dental services or most restorative oral health treatments, such as fillings and crowns.
Dental insurance focuses on your oral health. It usually completely covers the cost of things like cleanings, exams, and X-rays. It can also significantly lower your out-of-pocket obligation for restorative procedures, such as those used to address cavities and gum disease.
In rare cases, there is a bit of overlap between medical and dental insurance. For example, they both might cover certain types of oral surgeries.
Why Are They Separate?
At first, it might seem odd that medical and dental insurance are separate. After all, your oral health is vital to your overall wellness! However, the separation is simply due to the fact that traditionally, dentists and physicians have been viewed as playing vastly different roles. In fact, the concept of dental insurance was not invented until about one hundred years after the beginning of medical insurance!
Getting the Most out of Your Coverage
To stay as healthy as possible, you should have both a medical and dental policy. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of both plans:
- Study the details of each policy. You are likely to have deductibles, waiting periods, and other stipulations. For example, dental policies usually have an annual maximum that limits how much the insurance company will pay in a calendar year.
- Attend preventive appointments. Your dental plan is likely to cover two preventive checkups and cleanings each year. Attending these can help your dentist to identify problems early on and save you a lot of money in the long run.
- Understand where your coverage applies. With a PPO insurance plan, you can use your coverage at virtually any licensed practitioner. Other types of insurance are more limited, so regardless of which doctor or dentist you visit, you should first verify that they accept payment from your insurance company.
Both your medical and dental insurance plans are important. Familiarize yourself with your coverage so you can protect your well-being from head to toe.
Meet the Practice
The three experienced, highly skilled dentists at Clear Coast Dental are proud to serve the New Bedford community. We recognize that many patients have concerns about the cost of care, so we are always happy to provide straightforward pricing information. We can also file claims with virtually any PPO dental insurance. To learn more about us and our policies, contact our friendly staff at 508-997-1030.
