How Does United Concordia Dental Insurance Work?
Dental insurance, just like health insurance, will provide benefits that help lower the cost of your dental treatment. Dental insurance plans are all different, so it is important to understand the benefits you need before you start searching for a plan.
Do You Have a Choice of Plans?
During the open enrollment period, you can choose from the plans your employer offers. That could mean choosing from either a Dental Health Maintenance Organization (DHMO) or a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plan.
How Do You Find the Network and Plan You are on?
Your ID card shows which network you are enrolled in as well as the title of your plan. If you have established an online account with Concordia Dental, you can easily view your digital ID card, in addition to your network and plan information. You just log in to MyDentalBenefits.
How Does Dental Insurance Work?
Much like your health insurance, your dental insurance shares the costs of your dental care in exchange for a premium. You could also have to pay deductibles, copays, and some other costs, but these details vary from plan to plan. Here are common terms of dental insurance plans:
- Premiums- A premium is what you pay Concordia for your coverage. Premiums are most often monthly, but some could collect semiannually or annually. A common premium could be $20 to $50 a month for you or $50 to $150 a month for your family, based on your coverage.
- Deductible- A deductible you pay toward certain dental expenses before your insurance kicks in. If you have a $1,000 deductible, you will pay the first $1,000, then a fixed amount for covered services once your deductible is met. Deductibles reset every 12 months.
- Coinsurance- Coinsurance is a payment you will be responsible for to meet your deductible. If your dental plan covers 70% of the cost, your coinsurance is the balance of 30%.
- Annual coverage maximum- An annual maximum is the limit your Concordia dental insurance will pay for the cost of dental treatment in your plan year. If your maximum is $2,000 and your plan has paid $2,000 in the first six months, you are responsible for 100% of the costs for the remaining six months.
- In-network vs. out-of-network- In-network dentists are dentists who have agreed to provide care on Concordia’s terms and conditions. If you use an in-network dentist, you pay less for treatment. If you choose a dentist out of network, you could pay higher deductibles, copays, and coinsurance.
- Reimbursement- An insurance reimbursement is when Concordia pays the dentist for services provided. This payment occurs after you receive service.
What Does Dental Insurance Cover?
There are three basic categories of dental insurance, which are preventive, basic, and major. Many dental plans often take the 100-80-50 approach to coverage, covering preventive at 100%, basic care covered at 80% and major care at 50%:
- Preventive Care- Preventive care takes measures to prevent normal wear, gum disease, and even tooth loss. Routine appointments allow your dentist to examine your mouth, jaw, and neck to determine if there are any issues and to treat them early. Preventive care services include bi-annual cleanings, X-rays, and oral screenings.
- Basic Care- Basic care treats minor or medium damage that has happened, such as toothaches and gum problems. Frequent procedures covered under basic care are dental fillings, root canals, tooth extractions, and gum disease treatment.
- Major Care- Complex dental work, which includes surgical procedures, is considered major dental care. These treatments range from dental crowns and implants to dentures and oral surgery.
Related Article: Why Choose United Concordia Dental?