Our dental practice in Fort Wayne, Indiana, accepts many insurance plans to help make your dental care more affordable. We are proud to take insurance from most of the leading dental insurance companies in the United States. As with most health plans, it’s crucial to be well-informed when it comes to benefits plans and health coverage.
Furthermore, it’s not always easy to decifier dental benefits. Determining what your insurance will cover is sometimes like speaking a new language. Plus, most insurance plans are never as straightforward as we’d like. Luckily, we have been doing this for a long time and can help you sort through it.
In-Network Dentist
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- Signature Care
- Aetna
- Anthem (not including State, HIP plans)
- BEAM
- CVS Health
- City of Fort Wayne
- Cigna
- Delta Dental
- Fort Wayne School Corporation
- Guardian
- Lincoln Financial
- NACS, SACS, EACS Schools
- Principal
- UMR – United Medical Resources
- United Concordia (Military)
- United Healthcare
- And more!
Check to see if we take your insurance on our Insurance Search Tool.
Dental Care Benefits
Depending on your company insurance plan, most include comprehensive coverage for preventive care as well as restorative dental services such as fillings, crowns and bridges. We believe quality dental care should be affordable to all. It’s important to our dental office to keep our prices affordable for you to maintain healthy teeth without breaking the bank. If you’re unsure whether Dr. Jonathan Hale and Hale Family Dentistry is in network with your plan, be sure to check their website for a list of in-network dentists by zip code.
Utilizing your dental insurance benefits all year round is an important aspect of maintaining good oral health. Regular check ups, cleanings and preventive care such as fluoride treatments and child sealants can save you time and money in the long run by preventing more costly procedures down the road.
So, taking advantage of your insurance provider’s coverage to keep your teeth in top condition throughout the year is an optimal way to maintain healthy teeth that are free from decay or disease. It can also lower your out of pocket costs in the long run!
Fun Fact! Many dental insurances are switching to two times a year rather than strictly 6 months apart for dental cleanings and diagnostics such as X-Rays.
Waiting Periods for Dental Coverage
Have you ever wondered what is meant by a waiting period when it comes to dental insurance? Understanding it before seeking beneficial coverage can be beneficial.
A waiting period is a specific, predetermined amount of time where the patient must have insurance in order for an insurance provider (such as SunLife) to begin paying benefits of their plan.
It’s essential for patients to know of the waiting period that both they and their provider can adhere to when seeking options and recovery treatments in the future. Knowing ahead of time will give everyone peace of mind so they are more financially prepared before delivering any services are provided.
We don’t see a lot of dental insurance providers that require waiting periods for treatment. What your employer selects as their dental benefits with the dental insurance provider will dicatate whether you have a waiting period.
Know Your Dental Benefits
Understanding your dental coverage is important to prevent any miscommunication with dental offices regarding treatment. Worst case scenario could be that insurance doesn’t pay for a dental crown or high dollar dental procedure due to a waiting period that was unknown to the provider or patient.
To prevent this, Hale Family Dentistry always verifies dental insurance coverage prior to the visit. It’s impossible for us (and really any dentistry) to know every detail or every plan type, so we typically will do pre-estimates to verify benefits prior to scheduling large dental treatment.
One of the best things you can do is to call a customer service number on the back of your insurance card to talk to a representative about your coverage.
Dental Insurance Maximums
One of the distinguishing factors of a dental plan is the yearly maximum. Typically, most dental insurance plans only cover $1000 to $1500 worth of dental treatment per year. However, we have seen plans as little as $500 to as big as $3000 per year coverages. In layman’s terms, that means that once your dental insurance company pays that amount, they will not cover anymore.
Pre-Estimates or Prior Authorizations with Dental Insurance
A pre-estimate or prior authorization is basically like a hypothetical claim we send to your dental insurance to verify whether a procedure is covered and at what cost. Insurances always recommend submitting a pre-estimate to ensure complete transparency in dental billing.
It’s easy for our office to submit pre-estimates to insurance as they can usually be sent online quickly and efficiently. You can expect a couple week to a month to hear back regarding a pre-estimate or prior authorization is back to our office. Insurances will provide both you and us a copy of the estimate.
Delaying Dental Treatment
Regular visits to the dentist will help detect any potential issues early so that it can be treated quickly before it becomes a more serious problem. In this way utilizing insurance benefits all year round helps ensure consistent quality dental care for optimal oral health now and in the future.
It is important to take advantage of your specific benefits plan throughout the year for optimal oral health as well as financial savings. It’s essential to know your insurance provider’s coverage and any applicable waiting periods prior to seeking treatment, so you are financially prepared beforehand. Be sure to check whether your dental provider is in-network by calling before your appointment or checking lists online.
Be an Informed Patient
Being an informed patient can help you ask the right questions regarding dental claims, treatment plans, and even maximizing your benefits. Additionally, knowing these details ahead of time can help prevent miscommunication between insurance companies and dental offices when it comes to dental claims and billing. Taking care of your teeth today with insurance providers like Delta Dental or Cigna will save you from costly procedures down the road!
