Dental insurance policies come with a lot of stipulations and details that you should pay attention to. Otherwise, you might run into some unpleasant surprises when you are trying to use your benefits. For example, your plan might come with a waiting period. What exactly are dental insurance waiting periods, and how might they affect the coverage you are able to receive? This simple guide explains what you should know.
Dental Insurance Waiting Periods: An Introduction
A dental insurance waiting period is a certain amount of time that you have to wait after you purchase your policy before it will cover certain services.
Usually, there is no waiting period for basic services, such as cleanings and exams; you should feel free to use your benefits right away for routine care. However, you might need to wait 6 months before your policy will cover basic restorative services, such as fillings. You might have to wait up to a full year before it will cover major restorative services, including crowns and tooth replacement.
Why Do Waiting Periods Exist?
The purpose of waiting periods is to protect insurance companies. They do not want patients with poor dental health to buy a policy, use it right away for necessary care, and then promptly cancel their policy. The insurance company would lose money, and they might have to raise premiums for everyone in order to stay afloat.
What if You Need Treatment Before Your Waiting Period Expires?
If you know you need dental treatment before the end of your waiting period, check your policy to see if the waiting period can be waived. This is often possible if you had another dental insurance in the past and recently switched to your new policy.
If there is no way for the waiting period to be waived, you should not delay care until you can receive coverage; the last thing you want is for your oral health to worsen even further! After all, the more severe a problem becomes, the more expensive it is to treat. Instead, talk to your dental team about payment options. You might be eligible for a budget-friendly payment plan.
Dental insurance waiting periods can be a bit of an annoyance. Familiarize yourself with your policy so you know what coverage you have and when you can use that coverage.
Meet the Practice
Drs. Maria Maiorino and Molly Fraser are proud to provide top-quality care for the Columbus, NJ, community. Our practice welcomes insurance, and we are in-network with a number of major plans. If you have questions about how you can use your benefits in our office, we would be happy to assist you. Call Columbus Dental Arts at 609-324-9500.