Important Information for Your Public Employee Patients The ODA recommends that you display a poster in your waiting area or at your front-desk checkout window to help better inform your patients who are public employees about dental insurance and options that may be available to them and their families. Below are some “talking points” that may assist you and your office staff when discussing dental insurance with your public employee patients. •
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DENTAL INSURANCE IS NOT LIKE MEDICAL INSURANCE. Dental insurance is more like a prepaid gift card or phone card. Your dental insurance has a maximum allowable per year, and when it is spent, it is spent. So it is very important to familiarize yourself with all of the dental insurance options available to you in order to get the most “bang for your buck”. LOOK CLOSELY AT ALL OF YOUR OPTIONS! Sometimes, for just a few dollars more, you can get $500 or $1,000 more in benefits per year. Ask questions and make an informed decision!
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BE SURE AND MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE REGARDING COVERAGE FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. For example, regarding referrals to specialists for orthodontics or root canals, some dental insurance plans don’t cover these services, and some do.
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MAKE SURE YOU EVALUATE YOUR COVERAGE EVERY YEAR. Your enrollment/renewal period is in October, and you can make changes during that time. Benefits and coverage within the same plan may change from year to year, and if you don’t stay informed, your benefits could decrease or even change so much that they no longer meet your and your family’s dental needs.
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STAY INFORMED ABOUT HOW MUCH OF YOUR DENTAL INSURANCE YOU HAVE USED. Don’t let your dental benefits go to waste by not using them all before the year ends. Your oral health is just as important as your overall health. Dental insurance is a benefit to you as a public employee, and you should use 100% of it every year in order to maintain your and your family’s oral health.
This information will help your patients make educated decisions about their health insurance. If you need help making a poster, contact the ODA at 800.876.8890.
Sample Poster
If you are a Public Employee, please ask me about your insurance options! 18 journal | September/October 2023
