Dental Insurance

Your dental benefit, also called dental insurance, is a form of health coverage designed to pay a portion of the costs associated with your dental care. There are several different types of individual, family, and group dental benefit plans grouped into two primary categories: Preferred Provider Network (PPO), and Dental Health Managed Organizations (DHMO/HMO).

At the office of Portia J. Bell DDS, Inc., we want to ensure you receive the dental care you need to achieve the oral health you deserve.

The Difference Between PPO and DHMO/HMO:

To start, HMO stands for Health Maintenance Organization, and the coverage restricts patients to a particular group of dental providers called a network. PPO is short for Preferred Provider Organization and allows patients to choose any dentist they wish, either inside or outside of their network coverage.

PPO (Preferred Provider Organization): a type of managed care health benefit plan that provides maximum benefits if you visit an in-network physician or provider. It also provides coverage for out-of-network providers.

HMO (Health Maintenance Organization): a network or organization that provides health insurance coverage for a monthly or annual fee. HMO is made up of a group of dental providers that limit coverage to dental care provided by dentists and other providers who are under contract.HMO plans require you to stay within their network for care.

The Difference Between In-Network & Out-of-Network:

Dental benefits differ in their coverage percentages depending on where they are used.

When using dental benefits with an office that is able to accept your particular plan, and IS in contract with your dental insurance carrier, those coverage percentages may be higher.

When using dental benefits with an office that accepts your plan, but is NOT in contact with your insurance provider, those coverage percentages may be lower than an in-network provider.

When dental benefits permit you to use those benefits solely with an office that they are in contract with, you are limited to ONLY use your benefits with those offices. (DMO/HMO plans)

Accepted In-Network Insurances at Portia J. Bell, DDS, Inc.:

• Delta Dental Premier

Accepted PPO Out-of-Network Insurances at Portia J. Bell, DDS, Inc.:

Insurances we DO NOT ACCEPT at Portia J. Bell, DDS, Inc.: