{"id":27,"date":"2021-08-30T21:29:00","date_gmt":"2021-08-30T21:29:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.westlakehillsdentalarts.com\/blog\/?p=27"},"modified":"2023-08-14T18:54:35","modified_gmt":"2023-08-14T18:54:35","slug":"westlake-hills-dentist-tips-understanding-dental-insurance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.westlakehillsdentalarts.com\/blog\/2021\/08\/30\/westlake-hills-dentist-tips-understanding-dental-insurance\/","title":{"rendered":"Tips for Understanding Your Dental Insurance"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Dental<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

How much do you know about your dental insurance coverage<\/a>? Many people don\u2019t bother to learn about it or get confused by the technical jargon. Not to worry! Your Westlake Hills dentist is here to break down some important information you need to know to better understand how your dental insurance works. From there, you can make sure to maximize your coverage and make the most out of your investment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

How Does Dental Insurance Work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Did you know that dental insurance is completely different than medical insurance? As such, it\u2019s important to understand the basics of how dental insurance works. First, you\u2019ll pay a set amount called a premium to start and keep your coverage. Next, you may need to pay for your own dental treatments out-of-pocket until you hit your deductible. Once you reach this limit, your dental insurance benefits will begin to kick in and pay for your dental care. However, this only goes up to your annual maximum. When that number is reached, the responsibility will shift back to you to pay for your treatments. There are also extra terms your plan may include, such as waiting periods, limitation, exclusions, and more that influence how your dental insurance works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

HMO vs PPO<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) typically offers a lower overall cost than other types of dental insurances. You can typically expect to pay less for monthly premiums, copays, and coinsurance, and they often have no deductibles. However, coverage only applies to dentists within their network. A Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) is generally more expensive, but you can visit any dentist of your choosing without a referral and still receive coverage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 100-80-50 Rule<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Once you\u2019ve reached your deductible, most dental insurance companies will start to pay for your treatments in line with something called the 100-80-50 rule, which means:<\/p>\n\n\n\n