Dental insurance is a great way to get the oral healthcare you need at an affordable cost. However, it works quite a bit differently than the medical insurance that you are used to, so it can be confusing to navigate at first. Fortunately, we’re here to help! Continue reading to learn more about how dental insurance works and some of its differences from mainstream medical insurance.
How Are Medical and Dental Insurance Different?
The main difference between medical and dental insurance is their primary focus. Medical insurance helps to save you from the burden of large medical insurance. Without insurance, healthcare can be a challenge due to its high cost. Your medical insurance plan has a focus on unexpected care, like an injury or illness that occurs with little to no warning.
Dental insurance is usually geared toward preventive services. There is always the chance that an emergency could happen, but most of the time, visiting the dental office is for a cleaning, checkup, or minor restorative procedure to prevent future issues. With easy access to preventive care, you can avoid a dental emergency more easily.
Why Are Medical and Dental Insurance Separated?
One would think that medical insurance would cover their entire health. Here are some reasons why it is separated into separate categories:
- Separation of Fields: Dental and medical care have been separated for a long time. This is mostly because dentists and medical doctors require education from separate schools and are involved in different fields. The medical field never included dentistry as part of their practice. Dentists went their own way. This eventually translated into insurance as well.
- Dental Carriers: Carriers are specific to dental practices. To create cost-effective insurance policies, specialization is necessary. Your medical carrier is familiar with forming relationships with hospitals and doctors’ offices to help you get the best possible coverage for your money. Dental carriers will do the same thing except with a network of dentists. Dental carriers are better able to bargain with dentists for better discounts.
- Insurance Companies View Them Differently: When it comes to medical insurance, health can be unpredictable. A single patient could cost the company greatly. This isn’t usually the care with dental health because preventive care is the main focus.
Dental Insurance can be confusing, but your dental team can answer your questions and help you navigate your plan. By reviewing your benefits and working with your dental team, you can lower your out-of-pocket costs.
About the Author
At Falmouth Dentistry Dr. Kyra Chadbourne and Dr. Robert Campbell work to serve patients in the Falmouth community. With their combined experience and expertise, patients can get pretty much anything they need under one roof. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit their website or call (207) 878-8600.