Full coverage dental insurance policies help people effectively budget for the cost of maintaining a great smile. Full coverage” dental insurance does not necessarily mean your plan covers all services and procedures. However, it covers more than just preventive care and may include coverage for basic and major procedures and braces.
Just like medical insurance, understanding full coverage dental insurance policies is a breeze.
In a few lines to come, we’ll define full coverage insurance by stating why you need to get one and the benefits attached.
Table of contents
- What Is Full Coverage Dental Insurance?
- Why Do I Need Full Coverage Dental Insurance?
- Benefits of Full Coverage Dental Insurance?
- Types of Full Coverage Dental Plan
- What Does Full Coverage Dental Plan Cover?
- What Is The Cost For Full Coverage Dental Insurance?
- How Does Full Coverage Dental Plan Work?
- How To Buy A Full Coverage Dental Insurance Plan
- What Does Full Coverage Dental Insurance Not Cover?
- FAQs on Full Coverage Dental Insurance
- Conclusion
- References
- Recommendation
What Is Full Coverage Dental Insurance?
Full coverage dental insurance plans cover you for preventive care, as well as basic and major restorative care. And in some cases orthodontic treatment.
The number and varying services covered under your dental insurance plan are solely dependent on the dental insurance carrier you select and the plan you choose.
This could happen to be a PPO, Dental HMO, or other types of dental insurance plan.
Dental care is grouped into three main categories: preventive, basic, and major.
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Why Do I Need Full Coverage Dental Insurance?
The term, “full coverage” means you’re getting benefits for a lot of different types of dental treatments and procedures.
For instance, you may be covered for more expensive procedures such as root canals, bridges, and implants, as well as preventive dental treatment.
Full coverage insurance can cover a wide range of treatments and procedures with varying degrees of severity.
According to a 2016 ADA report, people who visited the dentist at least once accumulated an average of $685 in dental care.
The word full coverage, in this case, covers more than just preventive care and may include coverage for basic and major procedures and braces.
Here are a few benefits that come with full coverage insurance:
Benefits of Full Coverage Dental Insurance?
One of the most important benefits of full coverage insurance is that it covers a variety of dental procedures that range from basic to major.
Full coverage dental plans go beyond preventive dental care and can also cover basic and major restorative care, along with possible orthodontic coverage.
1. Improved access to care leads to better oral health
Your physician will examine nearby areas such as the jaw and neck during routine check-ups for good oral health, allowing them to highlight any problems you may be having there as well.
Preventive care can help reduce your chance of tooth decay and other dental issues, which can have a long-term negative impact on your health.
A healthy mouth can also lead to a brighter smile, which can boost your confidence.
2. Healthy teeth for the whole family
Full dental coverage is beneficial for families, as many children and adults now need braces to fix crooked teeth and other significant dental needs.
By getting a full coverage insurance plan, you are also preparing your family for any future dental emergencies or conditions.
Other benefits of dental insurance include:
- Lower out-of-pocket costs for non-preventive dental care. Without dental insurance, you end up paying the full cost for dental treatments and procedures.
- $0 preventive dental care.
See Also: 10 Best Cheap Dental Insurance Companies in 2023
Types of Full Coverage Dental Plan
There are various types of dental plans that provide full coverage for treatments and procedures that transcends preventive care.
However, the two major types of full coverage dental plans are:
- Dental Preferred Provider Organization
- Dental Health Maintenance Organization
- Exclusive Provider Organisation
- Dental Point of Service
Dental preferred provider organization
A preferred provider organization is a type of managed dental plan that gives consumers access to choose a dentist from a network of preferred dental providers who are willing to provide dental assistance to members at a slashed rate.
This type of full coverage dental plan helps you save money and also affords you the option of choosing the dentist you would love to work with.
On the contrary, it places a limitation on the type of dental care you can get and the amount of time your dentist can put into your work.
Dental health maintenance organization
A dental health maintenance organization or DHMO is a type of “managed care.” With this type of coverage, highly qualified dentists provide comprehensive and affordable care for individuals or families.
Here the participant doesn’t have to submit claim forms or meet a deductible with the DMO.
Aetna DMO is only available in regions where there are participating dental professionals.
Dental Exclusive Provider Organization
Dental EPO is a fee-for-service program. In this program, treatment is paid for using a charge schedule and member copayments.
During the treatment of dental EPO patients, participating dentists are reimbursed in full based on the member copayment amount and the lesser of the submitted charge or Dental’s maximum fee allowance.
Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO) health plans are quite similar to Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) as they do not protect care outside of the plan’s provider network.
Dental Point of Service
Dental POS is a service plan that allows a member to use either a DPOS network dentist or to seek care from a dentist, not in the DPOS network.
Out-of-Network care usually requires a higher out-of-pocket cost. They have lower costs, but with fewer choices.
POS plans come with their own set of limitations, but they can help people in a variety of ways. POS insurance, in particular, has terms and conditions that are similar to HMOs and PPOs (“Point of Service Insurance Plans”).
Beneficiaries of both POS and HMO health insurance policies, for example, are typically required to see a primary care physician (PCP), who will refer them to any specialists in their policy’ network (“Point of Service Insurance Plans”).
See Also: CIGNA DENTAL INSURANCE REVIEW 2023
What Does Full Coverage Dental Plan Cover?
The services and treatments covered under a full coverage dental plan depend on the type of dental plan you choose.
Typically, full coverage plans go beyond preventive care, they cover the following:
- Basic restorative care – This usually includes things like fillings, extractions, and non-routine X-rays.
- Major restorative care – This includes things like bridges, crowns, and dentures.
- Orthodontic treatment – This includes things like space maintainers, braces, and other devices used to align your teeth.
- Preventive dental care – This includes regular teeth cleanings, routine X-rays, fluoride treatments, and sealants as indicated by age and frequency. Many dental plans cover 100% preventive dental services with the exception of a copay at the time of the visit.
When choosing a full coverage dental plan, read the details carefully. Dental plans can vary even between insurers.
What Is The Cost For Full Coverage Dental Insurance?
The exact cost of dental insurance is going to depend on a number of factors, including the kind of coverage you get, your location, and the quantity of coverage you get.
You can choose from a variety of dental plans offered by eHealth to meet your needs.
The cost of full coverage dental plans contrasts greatly according to the level of coverage you want.
For instance, a DHMO or a DPPO plan may cover a number of kinds of dental services but the costs can be quite different.
How Does Full Coverage Dental Plan Work?
Full coverage dental plan words you the option of selecting a plan based on the provider you want to be able to choose from and what you can afford to pay.
If you already have a personal dentist you like, and they are in the insurance company’s network, you’ll be able to opt for one of the less expensive plans.
If you don’t have a dentist, you are free to choose from the network of dentists from any plan.
On the other hand, if your existing dentist is not in the network, you can still get insurance, but you’ll pay significantly more to see your dentist than an in-network one—so much more that you may not have any chance at coming out ahead by being insured.
The monthly premiums will depend on the insurance company, your location, and the plan you choose. For many people, the monthly premium will be around $50 a month.
See Also: What Is No-Fault Insurance And How Does It Work?
How To Buy A Full Coverage Dental Insurance Plan
Here are a few ways to purchase full coverage dental insurance:
- Enroll in a plan given by your employer if it is part of your benefits package, or as a voluntary benefit when you start a new job or during the open enrollment, which normally takes place in the fall.
- Enroll in a plan through a trade organization – If you’re self-employed and a member of a trade organization or other association, you might be eligible for group dental insurance.
- If your workplace does not provide dental insurance, you can acquire individual dental insurance from a dental insurance company over the phone, through a broker, or online. On healthcare.gov or your state’s ACA marketplace, you’ll only find a few options.
What Does Full Coverage Dental Insurance Not Cover?
According to investopedia, cosmetic procedures such as teeth whitening, tooth shape, veneers, and gum contouring are typically not covered by dental insurance.
These procedures are not considered medically necessary and must be paid for totally by the patient because they are intended to just improve the appearance of your teeth.
Some policies cover braces, but they normally demand the purchase of a specific rider and/or the postponement of braces for an extended period of time.
See Also: Accidental Death & Dismemberment(AD & D) vs ife insurance
FAQs on Full Coverage Dental Insurance
Full coverage dental insurance is a type of dental insurance that covers your preventive care, basic care, and major restorative care. It gives you access to different dental treatments and procedures.
The cost of full coverage dental insurance varies according to your location, type of plan, and the amount of coverage your policy provides.
Yes, there are full coverage dental plans without a waiting period.
You can get a full coverage dental plan either by enrolling in a dental plan offered through your employer or by buying a full coverage dental plan through a private insurance carrier or through a health insurance marketplace.
Conclusion
Before taking the decision of buying full coverage dental insurance, ensure you’ve considered factors like the cost of the insurance plan and its inherent benefit to you as an individual and your family.
To arrive at a better decision, take time to consider your earnings and your oral health before weighing the coverage options.
References
- Guardiandirect.com– What is full coverage
- Investopedia.com– How does dental insurance work
- cigna.com– The term full coverage for your dental insurance
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