Dental Insurance

Many companies offer their employees dental insurance, and our office accepts a myriad of policies. The most common type of dental insurance is called an “Indemnity Plan”. This type of plan allows patients to select a dentist of their choice, and receive a defined level of benefit coverage, depending on the amount and type of treatment that is received in a given one year period. Usually, these plans have a maximum annual spending limit, ranging anywhere from $400 to $3,000.

Specific aspects of various insurance plans can differ significantly, depending on what type of plan a given employer decides to purchase for its employees. Our insurance secretary can advise you on the coverage limitations of your dental insurance policy. We currently accept dental insurance from over 600 dental plans. There is a good chance that we already have information about your insurance plan in our computer system.

Some other types of plans are called “capitation” or “P.P.O.” (Preferred provider organization) plans. These plans provide much more limited coverage than traditional indemnity plans, and often require that you receive treatment from a designated dentist or clinic in a given region. Drs. Milazzo and MacDonald are not affiliated with any of the lower-quality managed care plans, because they believe that these policies place an excessive number of restrictions on practitioners. This seriously limits a doctor’s ability to provide good service and comprehensive care to their patients. Every aspect of a dental practice, from sterilization procedures to the use of new technology and equipment, are negatively impacted by the economic restraints imposed under these programs.

The best type of dental insurance is the kind that allows you to choose your own dentist. Moreover, a good dental plan will allow you, in consultation with your dentist, to decide which treatment option is best for you. Some insurance policies have hidden loopholes that require you to receive only the most minimal and inexpensive treatment alternative available. This severely limits the quality of care you will receive, despite the skills or intentions of a good dentist. In this day and age, insurance coverage should be looked upon as a means of partially defraying the cost of health care- not as a source of complete reimbursement.

If you are a human resources director or own your own company, and would like information about an innovative and cost-effective form of dental insurance that you can offer your employees, click for the Direct-Reimbursement link.