What dental plan covers crowns?

Answer 1

Most separate dental policies with a full array of benefits cover crowns. There are three general categories of dental procedures: 1) preventive (Ex--office visits, x-rays, cleanings), 2) minor (Ex--fillings, root canals) and 3) major (Ex--crowns, bridges, dentures, etc.).

In a dental HMO the co-payment for major procedures will be higher than the co-pay for a minor one. In a dental PPO or an dental Indemnity plan (traditional insurance with no network), the % co-payment will be greater for a major procedure than for a minor one. It is fairly typical for the out-of-pocket co-payment for major procedures such as crowns to be 50% of the dentist's fee.

NOTE: In a dental PPO the dentist's fee is negotiated, so is usually below the usual fee charged. For example if the fee for a crown is usually $1200, the DPPO negotiated fee might be $1000. So in a dental Indemnity plan, 50% would be $600 while under a DPPO, 50% would be $500.