Dental Insurance Calgary Options and Costs

If you're looking for dental insurance in Calgary, you have several options to consider.

Group plans are often the most affordable option, with costs ranging from $30 to $100 per month per person, depending on the provider and coverage level.

Individual plans can be more expensive, with costs ranging from $50 to $150 per month.

These costs may seem steep, but they can provide significant savings on dental care costs, with some plans offering discounts of up to 50% on routine care.

Many employers in Calgary offer group dental insurance as a benefit, but you may also be able to purchase a plan on your own.

Dental insurance in Calgary can be complex, but understanding what's covered is key to making the most of your plan. Most dental insurance plans cover preventive dental care, including routine exams, cleanings, and annual x-rays.

Some plans may also cover basic restorative treatments like dental fillings, but you may need to pay more out of pocket for these services. There are four main categories of dental insurance plans: basic, comprehensive basic, major services, and orthodontic services.

Basic dental care plans cover preventive treatments like cleanings and x-rays, but don't cover fillings. Comprehensive basic care plans cover procedures like root canal therapy and dental fillings, making them a popular choice. Major services plans cover complex restorative treatments like dental crowns, bridges, and dentures.

Orthodontic services plans cover the diagnosis, prevention, and correction of misalignment of the teeth, including braces. It's essential to review your plan carefully to understand what's covered and what's not. Here's a breakdown of the four main categories:

Some dental procedures may not be covered by your insurance at all, so it's crucial to review your plan before undergoing any new treatment.

Dental insurance can be a bit confusing, but understanding the costs and fees involved can help you navigate the system more easily.

Most dental offices, including ours, follow a fee guide to set prices for different treatments. These prices are separate from insurance policy fee guides, which show how much of the cost each procedure will be covered.

Insurance policy fee guides are essential to know, as they can help you estimate how much you'll need to pay out of pocket.

If you're unsure about what your insurance will cover, you can submit a predetermination request to your provider. This involves sending over documents like photos and x-rays of your teeth, and the provider will contact you with an estimate of what's covered.

Predetermination is not the same as billing, and it's only used to provide an estimate of costs.

Most dental insurance plans don't cover all costs, so it's essential to understand your policy's specifics. Our fees at Northland Smiles are consistent with usual and customary rates for dental care in Calgary.

When your insurance policy has a fixed fee schedule, it may differ from our standard fees. This means you'll need to pay the difference at the time of your visit.

Here's a breakdown of what you might need to pay:

Co-payments can be a surprise for some people, but it's essential to understand that insurance won't cover 100% of your treatments. Instead, you'll typically pay a co-payment agreement, where the insurance covers half or more of the cost, and you cover the remainder.

Understanding your dental insurance plan can be overwhelming, but it's essential to make the most of your coverage. Most dental plans provide complete coverage for preventative dental procedures such as fluoride treatments, exams, and x-rays, which means you receive these services at zero cost to you.

Dental insurance plans are unique, and it's crucial to have the skills and knowledge to understand your specific plan. At South Trail Crossing Dental, the friendly front desk team is well-versed in every aspect of dental insurance policies and is happy to work with your provider to help you optimize your benefits.

Most dental plans cover basic and preventative dental treatments, including cleanings, fillings, root canal therapy, and some dental surgeries such as tooth extractions. They may also cover a portion or all of some major restorative procedures such as orthodontics, dentures, and bridges.

Certain dental procedures may not be covered by your insurance at all. It's a good idea to go over your plan carefully before choosing to undergo any new dental procedure to ensure you know exactly how much could be your out of pocket expense for that treatment.

Here's a breakdown of the typical coverage levels for dental procedures:

Keep in mind that the classification of procedures into categories varies according to each insurance provider, but most dental insurance plans have "100-80-50" coverage.

When you receive a bill from your dentist, you might be surprised to find that you still owe money even if you thought you had paid your patient portion. This can happen if there are additional costs such as an individual or family deductible, treatment in another office prior to joining the dental clinic, or visiting a specialist.

You can pay your patient portion in full at the time of your treatment, or you can arrange a payment plan with the dental clinic's Treatment Coordinators.

We accept various payment options, including MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Direct Billing, and Interac (Debit). If you're not sure about your payment options, it's best to check with your dental clinic ahead of time.

If you have insurance, some clinics may only charge you for the portion not covered by insurance, and they'll submit a claim to your insurance company on your behalf. This is known as direct billing.

Here are some common payment options offered by dental clinics:

Keep in mind that each dental clinic may have its own policies and payment options, so it's always a good idea to check with them ahead of time to confirm their payment options.

You're ultimately responsible for paying the full cost of dental services, even if your insurance covers part of it. This means you'll need to pay any difference between the provider's fees and what your insurance covers at the time of service.

A clear estimate will always be provided before proceeding with any treatments, so you can expect to know exactly how much you'll need to pay beforehand.

You should be aware that the provider believes in full transparency, which is why they'll always give you a clear estimate before starting any treatment.

A Pre-Treatment Estimate gives you the exact cost of the treatment. This is a great way to know exactly what you'll have to pay out of pocket.

We'll file the paperwork with your insurance provider beforehand, which may delay your treatment. However, it's better to know what to expect and plan accordingly.

You can request a Pre-Treatment Estimate, and it's a good idea to do so if you want to avoid any surprises. This way, you can budget for your treatment and make informed decisions.

Please note that a Pre-Treatment Estimate is not the same as a predetermination request. A predetermination request is used to get an estimate of what your insurance will cover, but it doesn't involve billing.

Submitting a predetermination request involves sending over photos and x-rays of your teeth to your insurance provider. They'll review these documents and contact you with an estimate of how much they'll cover.