Isn’t it odd that medical and dental insurance are two separate policies? The mouth, after all, is part of the body. In fact, if oral health suffers, whole health will likely follow. One study shows that 90% of systemic diseases have oral manifestations.
At Austin Laser Dentist, Dr. Helen Ragsdale and our team understand and respect the importance of good oral health and the role it plays in overall health. We are pleased to offer an in-house oral health plan that rivals even the best dental insurance policies. To learn more, call our office or visit our website at www.AustinLaserDentist.com.
In this article, we’ll compare our in-house oral health plan to common dental insurance coverage so that you can make an informed decision about which is best for your family.
Customary Limits of Dental Insurance Policies
Maximum Benefits
In 1970, dental insurances usually had a maximum benefit of around $1000. It may surprise you to learn that today, the max benefit on many policies still hovers around $1000. If you have excellent dental insurance with low premiums and a high max benefit, you’re in a good place! You’re also in the minority.
Treatment Coverage
Dental insurance usually covers all or part of twice-a-year checkups and cleanings, plus a percentage of very specific procedures and materials, at the UCR (usual and customary rate, which is traditionally low). Cosmetic treatments are not covered at all.
Here’s an example of something a patient may run into with dental insurance. You want to maintain an all-white smile and avoid metal fillings and crowns. Your insurance may not pay for white fillings and crowns, particularly on molars. So, you either pay out of pocket, full price, for the white restorations you want or you pay a percentage of the cost for metal restorations you don’t want.
Select Dentists
Dental insurance, unlike our in-house oral health plan, may limit you to using only a select group of dentists. This means that your insurance coverage might not be accepted by your current dentist or the dentist you want to use. In these situations, you must choose to either remain with your dentist and not use your dental insurance or you can switch to a dentist dictated by your insurance.
Treatment Decisions
To utilize your dental insurance coverage, your dentist may be forced to alter your treatment plan. What your dentist believes is best for your oral health may not be covered at all or in part by your dental insurance. If this occurs, you’ll have to decide whether to pay for the recommended treatment plan out of pocket or ask your dentist to alter the treatment plan to comply with your coverage.
The In-House Oral Health Plan
Because of the limits dental insurance imposes on subscribers and dentists, Dr. Helen Ragsdale offers an in-house oral health plan to all of her patients. Choose from a basic plan, at $349 per year, with discounts for additional household members; or the premium plan, at $1499 per year.
Both options cover preventive care, which includes regular cleanings and checkups, at 100%. Other treatments, including cosmetic, are discounted based on the plan you choose. The premium plan includes a $1200 orthodontics allowance, as well as unlimited tele-health appointments.
Why choose the in-house oral health plan?
Dr. Helen Ragsdale and our team make oral health care affordable. If you feel limited by your dental insurance coverage, talk with us about our in-house dental plan. For patients who opt out of regular dental insurance or those who are without any coverage, our in-house plan can provide significant savings.
Call us today at Austin Laser Dental today: (512) 346-4690, or visit our website and complete a contact form, and we’ll call you.