Life Insurance Quote Overview

Do you know exactly what your dental plan covers, and more important, doesn't cover? The state of Massachusetts has settled charges against Delta Dental Plan of Massachusetts, saying its advertising and marketing materials were misleading. The company was also fined $5,000.

The settlement, filed in Suffolk, Massachusetts Superior Court, stems from allegations that Delta Dental did not properly explain a policy that allows dentists to charge higher prices after a patient reaches an annual maximum allowance or cap. As a result, consumers may have been forced to pay unexpected charges.

Delta Dental, the largest dental insurance company in the state, offers plans that cover dental procedures up to an annual maximum allowance or cap. Dentists enter into agreements with Delta Dental that determine the cost of procedures the insurance provider covers. These agreements, however, do not limit the amount dentists can charge after a patient exceeds the annual cap. As a result, dentists may charge consumers more for procedures that cause them to exceed their yearly cap.

Under the terms of the settlement, Delta Dental has agreed to modify its advertising and marketing materials to more clearly explain the charges that consumers are responsible for beyond the annual allowance. Delta has agreed to explicitly describe its policy through marketing materials and contact with current and potential members.

Massachusetts Attorney General Tom Reilly said consumers should under their benefits cap, pay attention to their annual maximum allowance, and ask their insurance provider and dentist about the cost of a procedure before it starts.

Finally, Reilly says consumers should choose their insurance provider wisely. Don't purchase any policy, he advises, until you have read all of the information about its costs and benefits and are familiar with its coverage.

Referred from: (http://www.consumeraffairs.com)