Medical and Dental Insurance: Is There a Significant Difference?

Home, car, life, medical, dental. In its various forms, insurance is intended to help save you money. But have you ever wondered why you have separate dental and medical insurance plans? Is there a difference between them? How can you make the most use of your benefits and hopefully cut your costs overall? Keep reading to get the answers to these questions!

Why Are Dental and Medical Insurance Plans Separate?

These days, most people know that oral health can significantly affect overall health; however, general understanding its importance is a fairly recent development. Plus, some may still not be aware that oral care matters just as much as taking care of the rest of your body! As a result, these areas of health are considered different and have been kept separate in insurance.

In addition, the approach insurance companies take for medical and dental coverage differs greatly. In fact, the difference is so stark that it doesn’t make sense to combine them at this point!

What Is the Difference between Dental and Medical Insurance?

When you have an illness or injury, medical insurance covers the diagnostic services and treatment necessary to fix the problem. In other words, this type of insurance deals with issues as they arise. Most of the time, preventive care is considered elective or optional.

In contrast, your dental insurance plan focuses on preventive services. For example, your routine checkup and cleaning is mostly or even entirely covered, while more advanced procedures tend to be only 50 percent covered. Simply put, dental insurance companies know that the cheapest and easiest way to deal with oral problems is to avoid them entirely, which is why they prioritize prevention in benefits.

How Can You Keep Out-of-Pocket Costs to a Minimum?

Even though you have separate insurance policies, you can use both to your advantage. In fact, if you do the following, you can decrease your out-of-pocket expenses for taking care of your body and your smile:

• Brush and floss every day to prevent harmful plaque buildup.
• Visit your dentist at least every six months for cleanings and checkups.
• Fix dental and medical issues as quickly as possible.
• See your physician at least once a year for a physical, and properly manage conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and others.
• Find out if your insurance policies overlap. For oral surgeries or trauma procedures, both may pay toward your costs.

Ultimately, although you have separate plans for your medical and dental needs, if you make wise choices in your lifestyle, you can make the most of your benefits!

About the Practice

Bear Creek Family Dentistry has six locations in six cities in the DFW Metroplex, including Dallas, Fort Worth, Duncanville, Arlington, Grapevine, and Mesquite. This expansion allows us to care for more families! We are insurance friendly and experts in dealing with these companies, which means we can help you save as much as possible and take advantage of benefits you’re entitled to. If you have questions about dental insurance, give us a call or reach out to our team online here.