Finding A Dentist That Works With Your Medicaid Insurance
Posted on: 15 June 2019
Dentists, like doctors, often have specific insurance companies that they will work with. The reasons behind the ones they choose vary, but when you need a dentist, you need to find one that can help you no matter what your coverage. In some states, Medicaid coverage is very good and the services that dentist provides are wonderful. In other areas, that may not be the case and it might be harder to find a Medicaid dentist to work with.
Call The Dentist First
Once you have established your Medicaid coverage, call the local dentists and ask if they work with Medicaid. There are differences in Medicaid plans so they may ask what plan you are on or need your plan ID number to determine if they can take the insurance for services you receive. It is common for Medicaid plans to have basic coverage, so if you need braces or a root canal, you may not be able to get them on your plan. The dentist office can tell you what is covered or you can call the Medicaid line and ask about the coverage if you prefer.
Common Services
The most common care people need at the dentist is cleanings and fillings. Most insurance plans limit the number of cleanings you can have in a year, and Medicaid is no different. One common procedure that Medicaid does cover in most states is extractions. The problem is, they may or may not cover a bridge, denture, or partial to replace the teeth that are extracted. Before you elect to have several teeth extracted, ask about any replacement options so you know what you are getting into.
There are some Medicaid plans that will cover dentures, but for very young people, the dentist is not going to want to go that route, if possible. If your plan does not cover fillings, talk with the dentist office about setting up a payment plan and have them bill anything that is covered to the insurance first.
Free Plans Versus Paid Plans
In some areas, Medicaid offers premium plans that require you to pay a monthly fee for them. These plans often cover much more than the standard free plan but you will have to talk to your representative and see what is available in your area.
The dental plans are often rolled in with medical and prescription plans so you could get a plan that costs one reasonable premium and adds coverage for the dental work you need, and adds more medical coverage, vision coverage, and more.
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