Full Coverage Dental Insurance

Despite the name full coverage dental insurance does not necessarily cover all dental work that you may need. Which procedures and treatments are included can vary between providers so, as always, you need to read the fine print carefully. This type of dental coverage is really a standard cover as opposed to the cheaper discount plans which are not really insurances at all.

What is the difference between full coverage dental insurance and discount plans?

full coverage dental insurance A discount plan is not an insurance but it is a way to save money on certain dental procedures. There may be a 20% discount on crowns for instance. With a discount plan you can start to make savings straight away. Many discount plans also cover cosmetic procedures which are not usually included in dental insurance. Dental insurance, however, is a traditional insurance in that you pay a premium to be covered and part or all of the cost of dental treatment is paid by your insurer. The proportion that will be paid is dependant on the premiums that you pay and the deductibles. It works in the same way as other insurances so you will have to fill in a claim form and the cost of treatment is then paid, either directly to the dentist or to you.

What does full coverage dental insurance usually cover?

Coverage varies considerably between insurance providers but almost all require you to pay some of the cost of dental work. Premiums can be high so you need to take this into account when deciding on the level of coverage to choose.

Benefits can be divided into three area as follows:

Basic Care – this includes regular checkups and cleaning that are aimed at prevention.

Minor Care – this can vary but may cover some of the cost of fillings, root canals, crowns and other common procedures. Very few insurers will pay for the total cost of these types of treatments.

Major Care – Most policies will only pay a small proportion of the cost of major procedures such as surgery, dentures, orthodontic care. Other procedures arising from injury or disease are often only partially covered as well. In the unlikely event of needing major dental work it is a good idea to have dental insurance that at least partially helps to pay the considerable costs. Make sure you are aware of exactly which procedures are covered and how much they pay out. many policies have an upper limit or do not offer this class of treatment cover at all.

Cosmetic Dental Work

Most full coverage dental insurances do not include cosmetic work at all. This includes veneers, implants whitening procedures etc. If you think you may need this type of dental treatment you may want to take out a discount plan in addition to dental insurance to help you pay for it.

Although full coverage dental insurance does not cover all dental treatments, or 100% of the treatments it does cover, it is fairly comprehensive and generally affordable. It will allow you to have dental treatment that is necessary to keep your teeth and gums healthy although you will still have to pay for cosmetic work.

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