If you’ve only just gotten dental insurance, you’re likely eager to use it. Wouldn’t this holiday season be better with the perks of your plan’s benefits? Even so, you may need to hold off; you must work through your dental insurance waiting periods first. Your purchased policy won’t help with dentistry costs until you do. As for the details on these points, never fear; just keep reading and let your Northampton dentist explain.
Dental Insurance Waiting Periods: The Basics
Quite frankly, it’s not possible to use a dental plan right after buying it. You can only access its key benefits once its designated waiting period is over.
A dental insurance waiting period is the time you must wait before benefits can apply. As long as it hasn’t ended, your policy won’t cover dental services; you’ll have to pay entirely out-of-pocket. This time period can also vary between insurance providers, lasting anywhere from a month to a year. The length of your own waiting period will depend on your plan and various factors.
Why Insurance Waiting Periods Exist
As odd as it may sound, dental insurance waiting periods exist for a reason. They serve a key purpose for the insurance companies that draft them.
These waiting periods allow plan providers to make money. Thanks to their existence, policyholders won’t just get dental insurance when they need immediate dental work. That approach – combined with dropping your policy right after care – would keep plan providers from turning a profit. On the contrary, waiting periods ensure you pay monthly premiums even while your smile is healthy.
Given the points above, you can view these waiting periods as “insurance” for insurance companies. They make it less costly for a plan provider to cover your care.
How Long Insurance Waiting Periods Last
In general, the length of an insurance waiting period depends on the type of treatment you want. They thus vary according to the following categories:
- Basic Care: With basic services like sealants and fillings, the waiting period is often 3-6 months.
- Preventive Care: Preventive dental care almost never involves waiting periods. Indeed, you can often get anything from X-rays and cleanings to fluoride treatments without a wait.
- Major Care: Since major care consists of dental crowns, bridges, and implants, which are complex, the corresponding waiting period is usually six months to a year.
If you want to learn more about dental insurance waiting periods, consult your plan provider. They’ll gladly share the relevant details with you!
About the Practice
EMA Dental is based in Northampton, MA. Led by an amazing crew of dentists, our practice strives to give each patient modern, safe, and effective dentistry. We thus offer a comprehensive range of treatments, including preventive, cosmetic, and restorative options. Our office also uses cutting-edge tools and tailored adjustments to ensure the best results! For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (413)-584-4900.