Dental is a large component of many benefits packages and it makes sense why! We only get one set of adult teeth and taking care of them should remain a priority for people throughout their adult life.
But, one thing for sure is that visits to the dentist can be quite expensive. Even with coverage.
Did you know that every province has a dental fee guide and it showcases what dentists should be charging for different procedures? Many dentists charge above the recommended amount.
The provincial yearly fee guide.
New dental guideline rates are released per province at the beginning of every year. These rates are the recommended rates that dentists should charge because of the research done by the report. Many dentists decide, however, to charge more than what is recommended.
Many benefit packages only offer dentist coverage up to the dental fee recommended cost.
Over the past decade, the provincial fee guides have fluctuated between about a 4% to 6% increase. But due to the continued inflation, the increase is one of the largest this year. In British Columbia, rates are expected to increase 8.77%.
How does this affect premiums and benefit packages?
Because of this increase, dental plans can become a very sticky thing for employers. Let’s go through how premiums are set through benefit advisors.
When a dental plan renewal is prepared, underwriters analyze usage patterns from previous years to determine what to expect for the year. With this research, sometimes rates generate more than enough to cover the claims and are reduced, which means they don’t require an increase. But, through the dental fee guide, it shows how much more individual dental procedures will cost that year. If you see a large increase in cost (like this year), you can expect premiums could go up as well.
What are the recommended costs?
To get a better understanding of what dentists charge, it’s important to note that not every dentist will charge the same thing. While it may take awhile, you can reach out to different dental offices in your area to see their costs for cleanings, fillings, x-rays, etc. Then you can compare with your current dental office and see if there are better options out there.
We want to note that you do not have to remain at your dental office. Many offices accept new patients and making a switch may end up saving you extra money.
In terms of costs, for 2023, the recommended cost of a new patient exam is $60.60. For a complete primary exam, it’s $88.90. For a complete series of radiographs, it’s $117.
If you have questions about other dental fee costs, please reach out to us. We’d be more than happy to share our resources with you to see how we can help when it comes to dental costs.
In terms of what can change, let’s go through what you should always do when it comes to a dental claim.
Awareness
Never sign a blank dental claim form. Although an overwhelming majority of providers conduct their business in an ethical manner, reports of false claim submissions have been confirmed in the past. As always, it is better to be safe than sorry. If you do not know what the codes mean, ask your dentist office.
Treatment Plans
Before getting any expensive dental work done (over $300 for example) you should have your dentist submit a treatment plan for review. A treatment plan is simply a description of the proposed treatment and an estimate of what it is going to cost. This simple precaution will keep you from paying for an expensive procedure that you thought was covered – but is not.
Utilization
Visiting your dentist twice a year may not be necessary. How often do you need to see your dentist? Depending on your teeth and dental habits, once every nine months or twelve months may be sufficient.
Do you have more questions?
Dental work is a big part of benefit packages and something that can bring a lot of stress and overwhelm to families and companies. Don’t let that be your situation. Reach out to Navy & Sage benefits and let’s see how we can help in terms of dental coverage. Give us a call today or contact us through our website and we’ll get back to you soon.
