Are you responsible for managing your company’s benefits? Maybe you’re an HR professional for a large corporation, or perhaps you’re a multi-tasking small business owner. Either way, your employees rely on you to help them navigate their health insurance plan.
So, what happens when an employee wants to visit an out-of-network dentist?
° Start with the Facts
Explain how your company’s dental plan works. Most Delta Dental of Virginia plans allow you to see any licensed dentist. However, employees will almost always save money if they choose a dentist in your plan’s network.
° How to Help
Let us know. If an employee’s dentist is not already part of the Delta Dental network – recommend him or her for participation by calling us at 800-237-6060. You can also the dentist to our website for information on how to sign up.
° What Happens Next
When we receive a recommendation, we review the dentist’s background. Next, we send the dentist an invitation to join the network. Advise employees that a recommendation does not always result in network participation. The dentist makes the final choice.
° The Bottom Line
Your employees receive the greatest value when they visit a participating dentist. The extra out-of-pocket expense may seem worth it to some employees, but encourage them to weigh the costs vs. benefits before making the decision to visit an out-of-network dentist. They can see the difference in the Delta Dental networks, including payment examples showing how much they can save by visiting an in-network dentist, here.
The good news is, with the largest network in the country, 83% of dentists in Virginia and 80% nationwide participate with Delta Dental*. So there’s a good chance their current dentists already participate with us. And if not, they can easily find one who does here.
*Delta Dental Plans Association, April 2015