Finance & Insurance

First, you must understand your insurance to get the most out of it. Understand the treatments covered by your insurance, the percentage of coverage, and any exclusions. Commonly covered services include preventive care (cleanings, exams, and X-rays), while major treatments like crowns, root canals, or orthodontics may have partial coverage. Generally, dental insurance doesn’t cover cosmetic or elective treatments. 

Here is how you can use your dental insurance optimally.

• Maximize your preventive care to prevent costly dental issues down the road.
• Dental insurance has an annual maximum. If you plan costly treatments, space them across two calendar years to maximize your benefits.
• Use your FSA or HSA pre-tax funds for out-of-pocket dental expenses.
• Ask your dentist to submit a pre-treatment estimate to your insurance company. This can help you understand how much of the treatment will be covered and your exact financial responsibility.

HMOs and PPOs are two common types of health insurance plans. If you need to invest in one, you need to know the difference to get one that best suits your needs.

• Health maintenance organization (HMO): This insurance offers its members coverage within a specific network of doctors or hospitals called in-network providers. The premiums of HMOs are typically lower because the insurance has negotiated fees with the providers. When you use an out-of-network provider, your treatment won’t be covered unless it’s an emergency.  
• Preferred provider organization (PPO): PPOs offer more flexibility when you need dental treatment. This option gives you a wider pool of doctors or hospitals to choose from. However, out-of-pocket costs for PPOs are generally higher than HMOs. 

Patients with PPOs enjoy flexibility. PPOs have a broad network of dentists and specialists, allowing you to choose from a wider selection of providers. This can make finding a dentist that meets your needs and preferences easier. The flexibility will enable you to see dentists outside the PPO network, and you don’t need a referral to see a specialist. 

I-Rise Dental understands dental care can be expensive. We try to accept insurance from as many providers as possible. Some of the dental insurance providers we work with include:

• Aetna
• Delta Dental
• MetLife
• United Healthcare
• Humana
• Guardian
• Ameritas
• Principal
• Blue Shield of California
• Blue Cross Blue Shield

If your dental insurance is not listed above, please contact our team to confirm. 

When you have dental insurance, you may assume your plan covers all treatments, but this isn’t always true. One of the ways to know what your insurance covers is to read the fine print. However, you can always call your insurance provider to know exactly what’s covered.

Always check your insurance coverage before starting your treatment. This avoids surprises down the line and allows for better financial planning. If your treatment isn’t covered, you can pay for it out-of-pocket or talk to our team about our dental financing options. 

Yes! We have dental payment plans for patients without insurance or whose coverage has run out. We provide third-party financing through Proceed Finance. 

The online application is fast and straightforward, and approvals are almost instant. Get started with your application now in Del Mar, California. Proceed Finance offers industry-leading rates and flexible monthly payments.