If you have always had dental insurance through work, you may not have given other options much thought. Then you change jobs, retire, or look at the price of buying a policy yourself, and suddenly there is more to sort through. A dental membership plan is another way to help pay for care, though it works differently from insurance.
At Reen Chung, DDS in Seattle, Washington, we can help you work through both. We accept dental insurance and offer our Dental Savers Plan for uninsured patients. If you are wondering how either would apply to your next cleaning or a crown we have recommended, bring your questions and we can go over the numbers together.
How Dental Insurance Helps With Costs
With insurance, you or your employer pay premiums to keep the policy active. Your insurer then pays toward covered dental services, and you pay any remaining balance. Many plans pay a larger share of exams and cleanings than fillings or crowns, although the percentages vary.
You may also have a deductible and an annual maximum. The deductible is the amount you pay before certain benefits begin, while the annual maximum limits how much your insurer pays during the benefit year. Once that maximum is used, you may have to pay for additional treatment yourself until benefits renew.
If you are shopping for a policy, look at how it covers treatment you already need. For example, a plan may cover cleanings right away but require a waiting period before contributing toward a crown. We can give you an estimate for recommended care so you know what to ask about before enrolling.
How Our Dental Savers Plan Works
Our Dental Savers Plan is a membership you purchase directly through us. You pay an annual fee, and we apply the included benefits and discounts when you receive care. There are no insurance claims to submit for those membership benefits.
For someone who has lost employer coverage, this may help keep regular appointments within the budget. You also receive discounts on additional treatment. However, a discounted filling or crown still has a separate charge, so we can explain what you would pay before you schedule it.
If you already have treatment waiting, ask us to work out the cost with the membership applied. We can review that estimate alongside the annual fee and your expected visits. Before you enroll, we will also explain eligibility and any restrictions on using the benefits.
What You Receive With Our Membership
Our Dental Savers Plan costs $450 per year, and benefits begin immediately. It includes two exams—an initial exam and a recall exam—and all X-rays at no additional cost. Your initial cleaning is 50% off, and your follow-up cleaning is free.
You also receive 15% off all dental procedures and specialist referral treatments, plus a $55 annual treatment credit. If you need periodontal care, ask us how the cleaning benefits apply to your appointments. We can go through those details before you decide whether to join.
Comparing What You Would Pay
Start with the visits and treatment you expect to need over the year. If you usually come in for exams and cleanings, compare those costs along with the insurance premiums or membership fee. Then add any deductibles and charges you would pay yourself.
If we have recommended several fillings or a crown, include those, too. Insurance may pay toward them, but a waiting period or annual maximum can affect how much you receive. With our membership, we can show you the discounted fees and the balance you would need to budget for.
You do not have to arrive with every number worked out. Bring the policy information you have, and we can help review it alongside your treatment estimate. If you are choosing for your family, we can also account for the different care each person needs.
Using Your Insurance With Us
We are preferred providers for several insurers, including Aetna, Cigna, Delta Dental, MetLife, Premera, Principal, Regence, United Healthcare, and Washington Dental Service. We also file and track claims for you. Because policies differ, we check your specific plan when estimating what it may pay.
Let us know whenever your coverage changes, even if the insurer’s name stays the same. A new employer or plan renewal can change your deductible, benefits, or network. We use the available information to prepare your estimate, although your insurer determines the final payment when it processes the claim.
When You Need to Spread Out Payments
Sometimes you can plan for a cleaning, but a tooth breaks and leaves you with an expense you were not expecting. We accept CareCredit for eligible out-of-pocket costs, including balances after insurance or our Dental Savers Plan benefits. It lets approved patients spread payments out under the financing provider’s terms.
Before choosing an offer, check the interest, monthly payments, and promotional deadline. Some promotions can carry additional interest charges if the balance is not paid in full on time. We can confirm the dental charges so you know how much you would be financing.
Keep Your Next Visit on the Calendar
If your coverage has changed, contact us before postponing your next cleaning or recommended treatment. We can explain our Dental Savers Plan, review your insurance information, and go over estimated costs. You can also ask about payment options if the balance is more than you expected.
Schedule a visit with us at Reen Chung, DDS in Seattle, Washington. Bring your insurance card, policy questions, or the estimate you have been meaning to revisit. We would be happy to help you sort it out and get your next appointment on the calendar!
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