When you experience a dental emergency, the foremost thought on your mind might be about how you can reduce your pain level as quickly as possible. However, you might also be a bit worried about the cost of treatment. Does dental insurance cover emergency care, or will you have to pay out-of-pocket? This blog post provides some information that you may find helpful.
Dental Insurance and Emergency Exams
Every dental insurance plan comes with its own set of stipulations, so you should check the details of your policy to find out how it applies to emergency care. However, most plans do cover at least one emergency appointment each year. That includes both a basic exam and possibly a set of X-rays.
Dental Insurance and Emergency Treatment
After your exam, your dentist will recommend a treatment plan. Insurance usually covers at least a portion of the cost of services that are often provided during emergency appointments. For example:
- Minor restorative services, typically including fillings and simple extractions, may be up to 80% covered.
- Major services, such as crowns and surgical extractions, may be around 50% covered.
Of course, your plan may also have a deductible and an annual maximum that affects your out-of-pocket obligation. For example, if you need a major service that costs $2,500, you might have to pay a $50 deductible before your benefits kick in. Your insurance could pay 50% of the remaining balance, but only up to your plan’s annual maximum. If that maximum is $1,000, you will still have to pay $1,450.
Managing the Cost of Emergency Dental Care
Here are a few tips that might help you keep the cost of your emergency care to a minimum:
- Choose a dentist who is in-network with your insurance. Often, in-network dentists have a contract with insurance companies that creates the best value possible for patients.
- Do not wait to seek treatment. Delaying dental care may allow your emergency to worsen, which could necessitate more complex treatment and higher fees.
- Ask about your payment options. Your dentist may offer financing or other options to make your care more affordable.
Dental emergencies are stressful enough. You should not have to worry about the cost of treatment on top of everything else. Talk to your dentist about how they can help you use your insurance and make the financial aspect of your care as easy as possible.
Meet the Practice
New Haven Dental Group provides a broad range of services, and we are often able to welcome emergency patients on the same day they request an appointment. We accept over 200 dental insurance plans and are eager to work with patients to help them maximize their benefits. To learn more about how we may be able to serve you and your family, contact our Woodbridge office at 203-409-2535.