Why is dental insurance separate from health insurance?
Jessica Levco
November 22, 2024
Have you wondered “why is dental insurance separate” from your medical insurance?
Have you wondered “why is dental insurance separate” from your medical insurance? The answer requires a crash course in medieval history, where the division between dental and medical care began.
In 1210, a Guild of Barbers was established in France, according to the American Dental Association. The guild created two groups: surgeons who were educated and trained to perform surgical operations and lay barbers who performed more routine hygienic services including shaving and tooth extraction. Dentistry as a barbershop practice spread from Europe to America.
It wasn’t until 1840 that the world’s first dental school, the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery, was established by a Maryland charter. It’s possible that the college’s origin was because the medical department of the University of Maryland refused a request to include dental education in its curriculum, the National Institutes of Health says.
By comparison, the oldest record of a medical school dates to the 9th century in Salerno, Italy, according to the NIH. By 1765, The Lancet reports, the Medical College of Philadelphia opened.
The divide between dental and medical stems from how these schools were established, Forbes says.
Why medical and dental insurance are not the same
“Does medical cover dental?” is a common question. The answer is no, although dental insurance operates similarly to health insurance. With dental insurance, you pay a monthly premium. According to Cleveland Clinic, after meeting a deductible, the insurance company covers a percentage of the costs for various dental procedures and you pay for the rest.
You might wonder, “Why is dental insurance separate?” According to the American Medical Association, the division between medical and dental care began with the establishment of dental schools and associations.
Healthcare reforms, including the Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010, further maintained this division, says the AMA.
Navigate dental care without insurance
You can get care without insurance. WebMD suggests contacting:
Public dental clinics
Free dental clinics
Government agencies, such as Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
Dental without insurance is a situation most dentists are familiar with. However, if you’re fed up with rising dental insurance rates and lack of coverage, you might want to look into signing up for a dental savings plan. Dental savings plans are membership-based programs that offer discounts on dental services at participating dentists.
With your Altogether Dental membership, we make getting a regular dental check-up affordable. You’ll get 15-50% off all dental procedures — unlimited usage; throughout the year. Every dental procedure is included with membership, including routine cleanings, fillings, X-rays, crowns, orthodontia, cosmetic procedures (whitening and veneers), braces, major dental procedures (like root canals) and so much more.
Maximize your medical insurance for dental coverage
When weighing your options, look at what dental procedures are covered by medical insurance. There are several instances when a dental problem might be covered by your health insurance, the ADA says, including cases where dental care is necessary to:
Prevent and eliminate orofacial disease
Reduce infection and pain
Restore form and function
Correct facial disfiguration or dysfunction
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry defines medically necessary care (MNC) as the reasonable and essential diagnostic, preventive and treatment services (including supplies, appliances and devices) and follow-up care as determined by qualified health care providers, in treating any condition, disease, injury or congenital or developmental malformation.
Financial options for getting wisdom teeth removed
What about tooth extractions? Is wisdom teeth removal covered by medical or dental insurance? Dental insurance covers preventive and basic dental care rather than surgical procedures unless those are MNC.
Monitoring wisdom teeth falls under routine care, the ADA says. Wisdom tooth removal is covered by insurance and dental savings plans, like Altogether Dental.
Altogether Dental reports that the average cost of a wisdom tooth removal is $723. With their dental savings plan, that price is reduced to $289.
If you’re nervous about how to pay for dental procedures, you might want to learn more about a dental savings plan. As an Altogether Dental member, here are a few benefits you’ll enjoy:
Lower costs: With Altogether Dental, you’ll enjoy discounts of 15-50% on all dental procedures — everything from cleanings, fillings, orthodontia, dentures and more.
No waiting periods: Discounts are made available immediately upon enrollment.
No annual maximums: There are no annual limits on the amount of discounts you can receive.
Flexibility: Our partnership with Aetna gives you access to 260,000+ choices of in-network general and specialty care dentists.
Here’s what one member said about us:
“Altogether Dental saves you tons of money on procedures that insurance would have never covered. Without them, I would have never gotten my teeth as perfect as they are. Definitely a 10/10.” — Alex
