Insurance is a very confusing subject, especially when it comes to dental insurance. If you are one of the many who gets confused about your insurance, stick around and check out these common mistakes patients can make when it comes to their coverage.
UCR
UCR – Usual, Customary, and Reasonable. This is one of the most confusing things about insurance because it is not set across the board; it varies from different insurance companies and even within an insurance company.
The UCR is tied into the plan that you or your employer chose, and it impacts your deductibles, maximums, etc.
Free Cleanings
Most insurance providers cover two free cleanings a year, but that depends on a lot of things. For example, if you just had a root canal done with a specialist at a different office and you come to us after for a cleaning, your insurance might not cover that as a free cleaning because your benefits ran out.
Cleaning Frequency
The frequency of free cleanings is also very confusing. You get two free cleanings a year, but each provider has a different way to measure what “twice a year” means.
Insurance companies can tell you that their plan pays once every six months, two times a calendar year, two times in 12 consecutive months, every six floating months. These all mean different things and can become hard to keep track of.
Coordination of Benefits or Non-Duplication
Some patients have two insurance coverages. A lot of insurance companies have a clause called coordination of benefits or non-duplication. And what that means is if a primary payment to the first insurance company that paid, if they paid more or allowed more than your second insurance company would have, they’re not going to pay anything.
Now, there are a few that will pick up the difference, and there are some that will pick up a portion of the difference. But just because you have two insurances, unfortunately, does not mean that you will not owe anything out of pocket after all of your services are done.
Learn More About Your Dental Insurance
Our team here at Rockside Family Dental wants to make taking care of your oral health as easy as possible! We will work with you to answer any questions you might have about your insurance.
Contact us today to schedule your next appointment!
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