Help your employees with their financial resolutions
In January of each year, it is common for people to make goals for fitness or to take better care of their finances. You can support your employees in working toward that goal by helping them budget for dental and other health expenses.
Offer dental benefits
Help your employees by offering great dental coverage. Most dental benefits cover 100% of routine preventive services such as cleanings, exams and sealants. These benefits reduce out-of-pocket costs by paying for a portion of many dental procedures. For example, basic procedures such as fillings and tooth extractions may be covered up to 80% and major procedures such as crowns and implants are covered up to 50%.
Educate your employees on what's covered
Inform your employees about their dental plan coverage and what portions they may be responsible for. Let them know of any limitations and help them understand that not all services are necessarily covered. Encourage your employees to chat with you or the benefits provider if they have questions.
Common Dental Insurance Terms
Annual Maximum - The total amount a plan will pay for dental services for a specific period (usually a 12 month period).
Coinsurance - The percentage of costs paid by the patient for dental services.
Copayment - A set dollar amount a patient pays for services.
Deductible - An amount patients pay toward covered services before benefits are paid.
Lifetime Maximum - The maximum amount a plan will pay during the lifetime of the plan. Usually refers to the orthodontic lifetime maximum.
Waiting Period - The amount of time before a patient is eligible to receive benefits for certain services.
Encourage visits to in-network dentists
Your employees save when visiting an in-network dentist. In-network dentists have agreed to set fees that are typically less than they would normally charge. When an employee visits an out-of-network dentist, they are responsible for the full amount a dentist may charge.
Pre-treatment Estimates
Pre-treatment estimates are recommended before any dental services are performed. While most oral health issues can be addressed quickly, some treatments need to be scheduled at a later date. Employees should work with their dentist to develop a long-term treatment plan and pre-treatment estimate so they're aware of all potential costs. It is encouraged that employees plan for potential dental emergencies and other unplanned costs.
These recommendations will help your employees calculate their annual budget for dental expenses.
Make it easy to save
Flexible Spending Accounts are a great way for employees to save pre-tax contributions to spend on qualifying dental expenses.