Dental insurance
See the rewards of making healthy dental choices Be prepared for big dental expenses with Maximum Accumulation
Like most of us, you know how important it is to take care of your teeth by getting regular dental check-ups. Preventive care can help you avoid the big stuff when it comes to your teeth. But it's not foolproof. What happens when your dentist delivers the news that you need costly dental procedures? Dental insurance can be a significant help financially, but there's a limit on how much it'll pay each calendar year. It's called your maximum benefit. That's where Maximum Accumulation comes in.
How does Maximum Accumulation work? You likely won't use all your maximum benefit every year. So where does that money go? If you visit your dentist during the year, you may be eligible to roll over a portion of your unused maximum benefit to increase your maximum benefit for the following year. It's available when you have dental coverage for preventive, basic and major services. • Preventive — Exams, cleanings and sometimes x-rays • Basic — X-rays, extractions, fillings and sometimes crowns • Major — Crowns, inlays, onlays, bridges and dentures How do you know if you're eligible to carry benefits over to the next year? If your dental benefits paid are less than 50% of your annual maximum, you can roll over 25% and accumulate up to1x your annual maximum. The amount accumulated is added to your annual maximum for the next year.
Let's look at an example of how the rollover amount is calculated assuming a $1,000 calandar-year maximum. Maximum*
Claim limit
Year 1
$1,000
$500
Year 2
$1,250
Year 3
Benefits paid
Rollover amount
Accumulated rollover
$450
$250
$250
$500
$850
$0
$250
$1,250
$500
$450
$250
$500
Year 4
$1,500
$500
$0
$0
$0
Year 5
$1,000
$500
$450
$250
$250
*Calendar-year maximum, plus accumulated rollover from the prior year.
You can see that in year 2, where benefits paid were more than the yearly claim limit — which is 50% of the maximum — there was no rollover. And in year 4, where there were no claims at all, your accumulated amount went back down to zero. That's why it pays to visit the dentist regularly for preventive care. With Maximum Accumulation, you won't leave money for costly dental procedures on the table. See the rewards of making healthy choices for your teeth — all it takes is making regular visits to your dentist.
Simplify your dental care experience Let’s face it, for many of us, visiting the dentist isn’t always our favorite activity. That’s why the insurance side of the experience should be simple – and we get that. This handy step-by-step guide can help you better understand your dental insurance journey.
Path 1
August
Path 2
Path 3
You need dental work
You need more information
us
You need a routine visit
Path 1: You need a routine visit They say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Seeing your dentist regularly for routine care helps you avoid problems down the line. So, how do you make it happen?
Find a network dentist. Your out-of-pocket costs will be lower and you may even qualify for in-network discounts. How? Check your ID card for your network
and
Go online to principal.com/dentist
or
Give us a call: 800-247-4695
Confirm network participation. When you schedule your appointment, confirm the provider is still in the network.
Make sure you’re eligible. Depending on your policy, it may be too soon to schedule an appointment.
Example 1 One check-up every 6 months Jan April 3 1st check-up
Example 2 Check-ups twice a year Dec
Oct. 3 Next eligible
Jan April 3 1st check-up
Dec Eligible for one more check-up anytime until the next Jan. 1
Path 2: You need dental work When your teeth need special treatment, it’s up to you and your dentist to decide what work needs to be done. What are your next steps?
1
Talk to your dentist about submitting a pre-determination.
2
Remind your dentist to provide supporting documentation.
3
Plan for a processing period of 10 to 14 business days.
4
Call us with questions at 800-247-4695.
What’s a pre-determination? It’s a review of the claim by a licensed dentist to determine if the procedure is dentally necessary and will be covered by your insurance.
Why do I need one? • Prevents surprises about what will be paid • Details the costs we cover and what you’re responsible for, such as deductible, co-insurance or non-covered services
Path 3 – You need more information You’re not in this alone. Have questions? We have answers.
Call us at 800-247-4695.
Send us a note via principal.com/ contact us. We’ll get back to you within 24-48 hours.
Download the Principal Mobile smart phone app! It’s free and compatible with both Android and Apple devices. Look for it in Google Play or the Apple App Store.
Visit us on the web at principal.com/individuals/ insure/get-started.
Dental insurance from Principal® is issued by Principal Life Insurance Company, Des Moines, Iowa 50392-0002, principal.com. This is an overview of the benefits dental insurance provides, but there are limitations and exclusions. For additional details, contact your employer. Principal, Principal and symbol design and Principal Financial Group are trademarks and service marks of Principal Financial Services, Inc., a member of the Principal Financial Group. GP61805-02 | 01/2019 | © 2019 Principal Financial Services, Inc.
Dental insurance
Enjoy a lifetime of healthy smiles We’ve all heard sugar, coffee and soda are hard on our teeth. But not everyone’s willing to give up their treats. Are you? That’s why dental care is so important.
An ounce of prevention … you know the rest. Dental cleanings remove the plaque that routine brushing misses, often leading to tooth decay. And finding tooth decay early can help protect your teeth – and your wallet from costly dental procedures. Having dental insurance increases the odds that you’ll go to the dentist regularly. It also helps you control your out-ofpocket costs for qualifying basic and major dental care. You’ve probably had a friend tell you how expensive their crown was. Having dental insurance helps you budget for your care. And a visit to the dentist may even detect serious illness. Regular check-ups can reveal signs of disease, such as osteoporosis and certain cancers, before you even know about them.
Tips for a healthy smile Prevent gum disease and cavities by: • Brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and flossing • Replacing your toothbrush every three months • Not smoking or chewing tobacco • Eating healthy foods and drinking water
Let’s look at an example Carla is married and has a young daughter. She tries hard to prepare healthy meals and keep her family active. But, Carla and her husband start each morning with their favorite coffee. And their daughter inherited her mom’s sweet tooth. Carla’s husband skipped routine dental exams in his 20’s, which led to extensive dental work later. Carla knows – first hand – the value of routine dental care. That’s why she appreciates having access to dental insurance for her and her family through her employer. It’s one more way she can help keep her family healthy.
Enrolling in dental insurance and getting preventive care are two easy ways to stay healthy. Want more information to make better decisions about oral health care? Check out Dental Health EdgeSM at http://c3.go2dental.com/scontent/.