You’ve been told that you might require a dental crown to fix a damaged tooth or you need a treatment sooner rather than later to avoid oral health complications. To take care of the problem ahead of time, you decide to schedule an appointment and file a claim with your dental insurance provider. However, you discover that there is a waiting period. Why is this put in place? Keep reading to learn more about what this term means and the way it works.
What Is a Dental Insurance Waiting Period?
If you’ve ever seen the words “waiting period” within the text of your dental insurance policy, it’s important to know what this indicates about your plan. Generally speaking, this refers to a particular timeframe that you’ll have to wait for once you’ve purchased your plan to finally have access to your potential benefits. Though this might seem strange or even frustrating at times, here are several things you’ll want to consider:
- Each insurance provider is unique, and their waiting periods can range from 2-12 months.
- Not every dental insurance provider will have waiting periods.
- Not all insurance benefits are subject to waiting periods.
- You should be able to see which services have waiting periods and which are available immediately within your plan.
- Benefits through an employer-based plan are less likely to be subject to waiting plans.
Many dental insurance carriers have these delayed periods due to them offering better coverage for preventive treatments. Medical insurance, on the other hand, is designed to help save more for a serious injury. Should a person purchase a dental plan to treat various oral health problems but end up canceling it after it expires, the insurance provider can lose a large portion of the money. Waiting periods can help prevent this from occurring.
How Do Waiting Periods Work?
Firstly, you’ll want to consult your dental insurance provider about any treatments your dentist has recommended to you. They should say if the service will require a waiting period. For instance, you might buy a plan but have to wait six months before your benefits can kick in for a procedure, such as dental crowns. If you don’t hold off for the specified amount of time, you’ll have to pay for the total cost of treatment.
Although waiting periods might seem like a hassle, they’re crucial for numerous dental insurance providers. Make sure to verify the details of your policy with your carrier, and they should be able to help you navigate your plan so you can save more while taking care of your smile.
About the Practice
At Indy Dental Group, our talented team of dentists provides comprehensive treatments while using state-of-the-art technology to offer essential care. We’re also in-network with a wide variety of dental insurance providers and are more than happy to walk you through the details so you can make the most of your benefits. If you have any questions about your plan or wish to schedule an appointment, visit our website or call us at 317-846-6125.