{"id":4323,"date":"2021-02-17T14:34:07","date_gmt":"2021-02-17T19:34:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.opencare.com\/blog\/?p=4323"},"modified":"2021-05-28T15:46:09","modified_gmt":"2021-05-28T19:46:09","slug":"insurance-helping-patients-understand-what-theyre-covered-for","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.opencare.com\/blog\/insurance-helping-patients-understand-what-theyre-covered-for\/","title":{"rendered":"How much do dental patients really know about their insurance coverage?"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading Time: <\/span> 4<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>

Few patients really understand dental insurance. And helping any patient understand more is no easy feat. Dental benefits are complicated. Every plan type varies from one insurance company to the other and many of them change annually. That\u2019s why explaining dental insurance to patients is a top priority. Let\u2019s discuss patient insurance literacy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Make sure patients under stand their insurance before coming in<\/b><\/h2>\n

Before you start explaining dental insurance to patients, you need to know what that coverage has to offer, including <\/span>how it works<\/span><\/a>. The bigger the coverage, the easier it is for patients to book a <\/span>dentist appointment<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The majority of American dental plans provide 80% coverage for basic dental care. That includes sealants, fillings, extractions, periodontal treatment, and non-routine X-rays. A plan often covers the complete cost of preventative treatments like routine cleaning and oral exams.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Although dental plans can ensure 50% coverage for other treatments \u2014 like bridges, dentures, and crowns \u2014 patients are still saving a hefty sum in the long run. And if they know the ins and outs of their dental plan, they can save plenty of money and protect themselves from financial risk.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t

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Worry-free insurance verification<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Opencare takes the guesswork and effort out of insurance verification.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tLearn more<\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n

They\u2019ll also pay specific rates, which means reducing their out-of-pocket costs. With dental insurance, procedures like routine cleaning become an easy choice. They ensure optimal dental health.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What patients typically know about their dental insurance<\/b><\/h3>\n

Just 9%<\/strong> of American adults understand the four basic terms of health insurance, <\/span>one s<\/span>urvey<\/span><\/a> shows, such as co-insurance, out-of-pocket maximum, deductibles, and health plan premium. Although that’s 2%<\/strong> more than in 2016, it seems they are still a long way off from making the most of their healthcare services.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Around 77%<\/strong> of the US population has dental benefits. However, 40%<\/strong> are not even using it. <\/span>Data indicates<\/span><\/a> the reason dental patients don\u2019t rely on their dental plans is that they think treatments would still be expensive. Simply put, they don\u2019t have an understanding of the merits of having dental insurance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Millennials are the least informed about dental benefits of all adults. Various age groups understand insurance policies differently. While those between 22 and 37 claim they\u2019re confident about how much they know about insurance, they actually display the lowest comprehension. Luckily, this group is among the\u00a0 easiest to reach. With an active presence on social media, their level of comprehension can increase dramatically in a short period of time.<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t

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