If you have Delta Dental and you live in Ahwatukee, Chandler, or the neighborhoods in between, this post is for you. Both of our offices are in-network with Delta Dental, and I want to explain what that covers, what it does not, and how to get the most out of the plan.
Which Delta Dental plans we accept
Kokopelli Family and Cosmetic Dentistry in Ahwatukee is in-network with Delta Dental PPO and Delta Dental Premier through a direct contract.
Kokopelli Dentistry of Chandler is in-network with Delta Dental PPO, Delta Dental Premier, and Delta Dental Medicare Advantage plans.
PPO and Premier are the two networks most Delta Dental members have. If your employer's plan is a Delta Dental PPO, you get the PPO fee schedule with us. If your plan is Premier only, you still get in-network pricing, just on the Premier schedule. Either way, you are in-network, and we file the claims.
What in-network with Delta Dental means for your bill
Delta Dental pays a percentage of a contracted fee for each procedure. In most Delta plans, preventive care such as exams, cleanings, and X-rays is covered at a high percentage, fillings and simple treatment at a middle percentage, and crowns, implants, and other major work at a lower percentage. The exact numbers depend on the plan your employer chose, so we look yours up rather than guess.
Because we are in-network, we cannot charge you more than the contracted fee. That is the real benefit. If a crown has a contracted fee, that fee is the ceiling, and your plan's share comes off the top. Out-of-network offices are not bound by that ceiling.
Delta Dental plans also have an annual maximum and often a deductible. Preventive visits usually do not count against the deductible, which is one more reason to keep your two cleanings a year.
How a first visit with Delta Dental works
Call the office you want to visit and give us your Delta Dental member ID, or the subscriber's name and date of birth. We verify your benefits before you arrive, so at your first visit we already know your coverage for the exam, X-rays, and cleaning.
The first visit is a full exam, the X-rays we actually need, and a cleaning when your gums are healthy enough for a regular cleaning. If I find something that needs treatment, you get a written estimate that shows the contracted fee, what Delta Dental is expected to pay, and what you would owe. Nothing happens beyond the exam without that estimate in your hands.
Getting the most out of a Delta Dental plan
A few habits stretch these plans a long way.
Use your preventive visits. Most Delta plans cover two cleanings and exams a year at little or no cost to you, and small problems caught at a cleaning are cheaper than the same problems caught a year later.
Watch the calendar. Annual maximums reset, usually in January. If you need two crowns, splitting them across two plan years can be the difference between paying a small share and paying most of it yourself.
Ask us for a pre-treatment estimate on major work. Delta Dental will tell us in writing what they expect to pay before we start. It takes a little time, but it removes surprises.
Bring the whole family. Delta Dental family plans cover children's preventive visits generously, and we see kids from their first tooth at both offices.
Frequently asked questions
Do you take Delta Dental Medicare Advantage?
Yes, at our Chandler office. If you are in Ahwatukee and have a Delta Dental Medicare plan, call (480) 283-0733 and we will tell you where you are covered.
Is Delta Dental Premier the same as PPO?
No. They are two different networks with two different fee schedules. We are in-network with both, so you are covered either way, but your out-of-pocket cost can differ. We will show you the numbers for your plan.
Does Delta Dental cover Invisalign or clear aligners?
Some Delta Dental plans include orthodontic benefits, usually with a separate lifetime maximum. Many do not. We check your plan before you commit to anything. You can read more about clear aligners at our offices.
Do I need a referral?
No. Delta Dental PPO and Premier plans let you choose any in-network dentist directly.
Next step
Ahwatukee patients, call Kokopelli Family and Cosmetic Dentistry at (480) 283-0733. Chandler patients, call Kokopelli Dentistry of Chandler at (480) 895-3252. Tell us you have Delta Dental and we will verify your benefits before your first visit.
Disclaimer: This article is general information from Dr. Harveer Kaur and is not a substitute for a dental exam, diagnosis, or treatment. Every mouth is different. If you have a concern about your teeth or gums, call our Ahwatukee office at (480) 283-0733 or our Chandler office at (480) 895-3252 and we will help you sort it out.
Dr. Harveer Kaur, DDS, BDS
Dr. Kaur is the founder of Kokopelli Dentistry, serving patients in Ahwatukee and Chandler, Arizona. She focuses on family and cosmetic dentistry.
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