How to Merge Health Insurance With Dental Insurance
Merging health insurance and dental insurance isn't difficult as long as your health insurance carrier also offers dental coverage. Although you may need to wait until your premium renewal date, it is possible. Some health insurance plans include basic dental coverage, and others add more comprehensive dental coverage for an additional premium.
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Things You'll Need
- Health insurance policy
- Information on dental plans offered by insurance carrier
Instructions
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Merging Health and Dental Insurance
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Contact your current insurance carrier to find out what dental insurance plans they have available. Many carriers offer a variety of plans, but the selection will vary from state to state. Dental insurance plans will range from limited-benefit plans that cover basic cleanings and x-rays, to complete plans that cover basic care and pay a percentage of the cost of major dental work like crowns. Some plans will offer a discount for orthodontic work as well.
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Evaluate the available dental insurance plans. If there is not a plan offered through your current carrier that meets your needs, you may want to explore health and dental insurance plans available through other carriers. Be aware that pre-existing medical conditions may make it difficult to move to a different insurance carrier. Most individual dental plans are less comprehensive than group dental plans. Be aware that you may need to find a way to participate in a group dental plan to get the coverage you are looking for.
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Inform you insurance carrier that you would like to add dental coverage to your health insurance plan. The insurance carrier will let you know if you need to wait until your policy anniversary date, or if it can be added mid-year. If you are unable to add it to your current health insurance until the anniversary date, the carrier may offer a stand-alone dental plan that you can purchase for the interim period.
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Tips & Warnings
Take a look at all of your available options before committing to a specific plan.
Ask an experienced health insurance agent if you are confused about what procedures a dental insurance plan covers.
If you combine your health and dental insurance, you will not be able to drop the dental coverage until your policy anniversary in most cases.
Make sure your dentist participates in the dental insurance plan you are considering. Tell your dentist the specific plan---not just the carrier.
Most dental insurance policies have a 6-month waiting period for procedures like fillings. You can have your teeth cleaned in the first 6 months, but you will have to wait if you want your dental coverage to pay for the filling.
References
- Photo Credit dental image by Andrey Kiselev from Fotolia.com
