About Dental Insurance in Boston
Everything You Need to Know About Dental Insurance
Dental insurance can be confusing, but we'll make it easy for you. Simply bring your card or claim to our Boston dental office or call to speak with our friendly insurance assistant. We'll be happy to tell you what your insurance will cover and file your claim for you.
Dental insurance is diverse. Some policies cover only a small percentage of fees, while others cover 50 percent or greater. The more you or your employer pays for premiums, the better the coverage, in most cases.
What Does Dental Insurance Cover?
For the most part, dental insurance covers preventive procedures, including annual X-rays, two cleanings and checkups per year, and fluoride treatments at 100 percent. Restorative care, such as fillings, crowns, replacement teeth, orthodontics, etc. are partially covered.
Cosmetic dentistry is not covered. To help with this problem, we work with third-party financing companies to make cosmetic procedures affordable for virtually all of our patients.
Most dental insurances also carry a "missing tooth clause." The clause states that your insurance will not pay for the replacement of a tooth or teeth that were missing before your policy began. Our third-party financing companies can help you afford dental implants, partials, dentures, or bridgework.
Dental Insurance Fees
Your benefits are probably based on "usual, customary, and reasonable fees." These fees may not accurately reflect the cost of our services. We are not a clinic, and we offer many luxuries and technologies to make your dental care experience comfortable. We invest time with each of our patients. To us, you are a person, not a number or a chart. Our dentists and our team invest in more continuing education than is required so that we can bring you the best dental care possible. The fees considered reasonable and customary by your insurance provider probably do not reflect the type of care and service we consider standard.
Your "yearly maximum" is the amount your insurance company will pay in a calendar year. Usually, the amount is $1,000-$1,500. If you do not use all your yearly maximum before December 31st, you lose it. Each new calendar year, your maximum will be funded again.
If you have dental insurance, we will tell you your estimated portion before we treat you. Don't worry about surprises! Please be prepared to pay your portion at your visit unless prior payment arrangements have been agreed upon.
If your insurance provider does not pay their estimated portion, we will bill you for the balance. However, our insurance specialist will provide all paperwork, charts, X-rays, and photos necessary to optimize your benefits when we file your claim.
