Posted by In today’s world, the average cost of a dental implant ranges from $3000-$12,000. Frankly, it will be difficult for you to handle it alone, so it is okay to ask if dental insurance covers implants… We have the answer!
Yes! Dental insurance does cover implants, but coverage percentage depends on various factors like; treatment type, plan type, and cost of the implant.
We made this article to give you complete information on the factors that affect dental coverage for implants. In addition, we will discuss dental companies that provide dental implant coverage and how to get dental implants without dental insurance.
Are you ready?
Table of Contents
Does Dental Insurance Cover Implants?
Yes, Definitely! Dental insurance provides coverage for implants, but coverage percentage differs depending on the plan type, severity, and cost.
Dental implants are becoming such a big deal that a study on its trends shows that nearly 6% to 23% of Americans would have got dental implants by 2026. Yes, that much.
This just helps us realize that more and more people are really interested in whether or not their dental insurance will cover implants if the need ever arises.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Implants in the UK? If you’d love to know more, then see that amazing guide.
How Dental Insurance Companies Cover Dental Implants: Treatment Procedure and Cost
You could be getting a single implant with a crown, or several implants with removable or non-removable teeth. This process is highly expensive. The time range for treatment could be anything from three to nine months. In fact, the really complex procedures may take more than a year.
Treatments for dental implants are broken down into four parts. Each part could be mild or extensive depending on how much work is to be done. This in turn affects the cost of the entire procedure. This means that your dental insurance plan could cover a very small or large portion of your implant bills.
Let’s look at the procedures quickly and what insurance would cover:
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Extraction:
This largely depends on whether you have a damaged tooth that needs to be removed. This procedure is then necessary and will be a part of your dental implant treatment. Most dental insurance plans provide coverage for this part of the treatment.
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Bone Grafting:
This is a crucial step in the implant procedure that increases cost. Although not applicable to all, patients some need some support for their underlying jawbone to keep secure (this is done before the actual implant). Dental insurance companies rarely provide coverage for this aspect of the treatment.
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Implant Placement:
This is beyond the preparing stage, to where the actual implant is placed. It is a major procedure, but dental insurance companies provide up to 50% coverage in cost.
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Crown Placement:
This is the final stage of the procedure where an artificial tooth(teeth) is placed. It usually has the appearance and functionality of a natural tooth. Most dental insurance companies provide coverage for a major part of the procedure.
Your dental implant procedure could involve all or some of these procedures. Knowing the part covered by dental insurance companies will help you plan oh how to cover the rest.
Other Factors That Affect Dental Insurance Coverage For Implants
- Cosmetic Dentistry: Dental insurance companies frown against coverage for procedures that are solely for aesthetic purposes. This also extends to implants when they are not deemed medically necessary.
- Plan Specifics: Insurance plans differ, although they may look similar. Certain plans do not provide any coverage for implants, while others provide a certain percentage with a lot of out-of-pocket costs.
Best Dental Insurance Companies That Offer Coverage For Implants
The following are dental insurance companies that offer coverage for implants:
- MetLife FEDVIP
- Spirit Dental
- Physician Mutal
- DentalQuest
- Delta Dental
#1. MetLife FEDVIP:
This company offers comprehensive coverage benefits for the cost of your implants after you reach your deductibles and it is subject to some specific guidelines. You have to verify the specifics of any plan you choose.
MetLife has a very large number of dentists registered in their various networks and scattered over the states in America including Washington DC. To get in contact with MetLife, you could easily access the local dentists in their network through their website.
#2. Spirits Dental:
The company provides affordable coverage, no waiting period, a one-time deductible fee of $100, and annual maximums of up to $5,000 for all their policies, which includes dental implants. However, they don’t cover implants for teeth that are missing before enrolling in a policy.
#3. Physician Mutual:
This company provides partial coverage for dental implants. There are added costs like deductibles and annual maximum. But you can get better information by checking out their official website or their PDF in the Major Prosthodontics section.
#4. DentaQuest:
This company offers a variety of dental plans that provide some coverage for dental implants. Although coverage amounts largely depend on the plan type, and most plans cover up to 30% of dental implants.
Annual maximums vary, but some plans offer up to $1,250 per year for dental implants. It’s important to note that not all plans cover dental implants, so it’s best to check with your specific plan for details.
#5. Delta Dental:
It also offers one of the best dental implant insurance coverages in the UK. The type of plan also determines how much coverage you can get for your dental implant. Some of their most popular plans cover up to 50% of the cost of dental implants after your deductible has been met.
A Guide To Choosing A Good Plan For Your Dental Implant
Know Your Treatment Procedure: If you’ve read up to this point, you already know the different procedures involved in setting up a dental implant. You must find out from your dentist if your treatment will require all or some of the procedures. This will help you select a plan that can adequately shoulder the cost.
1. Check Out Different Plans:
The plans above are a good place to start. Check out different plans and compare things like deductibles, annual maximums, and coverage percentages. You should also be concerned about waiting periods as this could affect your health directly.
2. Understand The Fineprint:
You could be easily swayed by things like lower premiums and forget to check out deductibles, annual maximums, exclusions, and several other plan limitations. Do yourself a favor, and read through each plan document thoroughly.
How To Get Dental Implants Without Using Dental Insurance
Since your dental insurance does cover dental implants but could be affected by factors like treatment plan, cost, and plan type, it is a good idea to find out what you can do if dental insurance doesn’t work for you.
Here are a few ways to get implants without using dental insurance:
- Personal Payment: This would involve you having to pay the entire cost of your dental implant out-of-pocket. This is generally not a popular option, which is why most people seek insurance
- Dental Discount Plans: These plans offer reasonable discounts for dental procedures to members of their network. You could consider finding out from your dentist or other providers, how to get access to this plan.
- Dental Saving Plans: You could easily save up to get your dental implants without having to worry about added taxes. This is what a dental saving plan can do for you.
- Dental Schools: A dental school is one of the best places to get adequate dental care at a really discounted price. If you are still searching for options, consider looking into this.
- Discuss With Your Dentist: Having a conversation with your dentist could actually help. Some dentists have arrangements that allow patients to pay for their dental treatment over a given time.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Important Recommendation
- Does Dental Insurance Cover Porcelain Crowns?
- Does Dental Insurance Cover Second Opinions?
- Is Oral Surgery Covered By Dental Or Medical Insurance?
- Does Dental Insurance Cover Gum Grafts?
- Does Dental Insurance Cover Anesthesia?
- Does Dental Insurance Cover Oral Cancer Screening?
Conclusion
Making up your mind about dental insurance for implants can be really difficult without adequate information. We hope this article has educated you thoroughly on coverage for dental implants and factors that could affect it.
Let us know what you think.
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