Dental Insurance – More Information

How Does Dental Insurance Work?

Dental insurance works in much the same way that medical insurance works. By paying your monthly dental premium, you are covered for specific preventive, basic and major dental services.  Preventive is usually covered at 100% (no deductible) right away.  Basic usually comes under the deductible and may require a waiting period.  Major comes under the deductible, requires a waiting period and certain major services, such as orthodontia) may be excluded by some plans.

Preventive

  • Exams, usually every six months
  • Cleanings
  • X-rays, usually annual
  • Fluoride treatment

Basic

  • Emergency care
  • Filings
  • Extractions
  • Root canal
  • Periodontal scaling

Major

  • Crowns
  • Inlays
  • Bridgework
  • Dentures
  • Oral surgery
  • Note:  One-time services like orthodontia and implants are generally not covered in regular dental plans due to the high added cost.

What is the best dental insurance plan for me?

Although there is no one “best” dental insurance plan, some plans may work better for you and your family than others. Dental insurance requires some advance planning.  Plans differ primarily in how much you will have to pay monthly for your coverage, the deductible amount and how long you will have to wait until major dental services become covered, such as 6 to 12 months. If you need major dental work today, dental insurance you buy today probably will not help you until you get beyond the waiting period.  Also, most plans limit coverage to a specific dollar-amount maximum per year, such as $1000 or $2000.

What kinds of dental insurance plans are available?

Dental insurance plans are usually categorized as either Indemnity or Managed-Care Dental plans.  Through the U-Haul Dealer Benefits Program, we offer only the best value dental insurance plans we can find in your state, from the highest-rated insurers. In general, you will have less paperwork and lower out-of-pocket costs with a managed-care dental plan.  Managed-care plans maintain a network of preferred dental providers. Dentists participating in a network agree to perform services for patients at pre-negotiated rates and normally submit the claim to the dental insurance company for you. Indemnity plans, on the other hand, pay a specified amount of the cost for covered services only after they receive a bill, which means that you may have to pay up front and then obtain reimbursement from the insurer of the indemnity plan.