Dental Insurance – Lakewood, CO
Safeguard Your Smile with Dental Insurance
Dr. Carole Emanuel understands that protecting your smile can improve your quality of life and can even help prevent a variety of dangerous oral and overall health problems. However, she also understands that caring for your teeth and gums can be expensive. That’s why she’s proud to welcome dental insurance as well as being an in-network provider for Delta Dental Premier.
Furthermore, we are happy to assist you by maximizing your benefits and filing your claims, protecting your smile and your bottom line. To get started on saving your teeth, gums, and your money, contact us today for an appointment!
How Dental Insurance Works
Much like health insurance or car insurance, dental insurance is here to help save you money. It works by you, the policy holder, agreeing to pay a monthly fee in exchange for benefits you can use with a dentist who accepts them. However, please keep the following in mind:
- In most cases, a dental insurance policy is based on a calendar year. This means your benefits won’t roll over into the new year. Instead, they’ll renew on January 1, resetting your deductible to $0.
- Before your dental insurance company agrees to pay for minor or major restorative work, you must meet your annual deductible first.
- Your annual maximum is a specific amount of money allocated to you by your dental insurance provider. This is the most they’ll agree to pay for you and your family’s dental care in a single calendar year.
Since most dental insurance companies agree to cover between 80% to 100% of the cost of your preventive care, we strongly recommend maintaining your regular, six-month dental check-ups and cleanings, as these will be of little to no cost to you. These appointments will also help reduce future costs by protecting your smile before a new issue can develop.
What is the Difference Between Dental & Medical Insurance?
Although the difference between dental and medical insurance may seem negligible, the two are actually quite different. Dental insurance was designed to prevent dental problems, which is why your plan likely covers more for preventive care than it does for restorations. This is because your dental insurance provider wants to lower your risk of needing more costly treatments like root canals, extractions, and periodontal therapy. The more money left in your annual maximum at the end of the year, the more your provider gets to keep.
On the other hand, medical insurance might offer some coverage for general wellness check-ups; however, they typically pay more for surgeries, hospitalizations, and emergency care after an incident has already occurred.
In-Network vs. Out-of-Network
Another set of terms that confuse patients are “in-network” and “out of network.” The difference between the two typically comes down to how much you’ll pay for your care. Generally speaking, you’ll pay less seeing an in-network dentist versus an out-of-network dentist, because your dental insurance company has pre-negotiated rates with in-network providers that can provide valuable savings.
In-Network Coverage
Dr. Emanuel is proudly in-network Delta Dental Premier; however, she is happy to accept all dental insurance plans and is committed to providing the same excellent care no matter which plan you have. However, by being a member of Delta Dental Premier, Dr. Emanuel can ensure that you’re paying the least amount of money for the services you receive.
Out-of-Network
If you decide to visit a dentist who is out-of-network with your dental insurance provider, it is possible that you’ll pay a higher cost for treatment and may be required to pay for any treatment balance up front. However, Dr. Emanuel is committed to providing the same high-quality treatment no matter what method of payment you select. Our dental insurance team is also happy to file your paperwork and claims on your behalf, whether we are in-network or not.