• Do my employees need their ID card when they visit the dentist?
• What are the advantages of using BCBSNM's in-network dental providers?
• Are there any waiting periods for dental services?
• What happens if I change dental insurance carriers when some of my employees are in the middle of treatment?
• If I change dental insurance carriers during the middle of the year, and some of my employees have already paid their deductible, will they have a new deductible for the rest of the year with the new carrier?
• What if my employees have questions about their dental benefits?
Do my employees need their ID card when they visit the dentist?
No, but it is always a good idea to have their member ID card with them. To confirm a member's coverage with us, the dentist may call our Customer Service at 1-877-723-5697. We will need the member's identification number (listed on the ID card) or Social Security number to confirm dental coverage.
What are the advantages of using BCBSNM's in-network providers?
We have a participating network of over 350 dentists and specialists in New Mexico. These in-network dentists agree to file claims for our members and accept members' coinsurance and the balance of our fee allowance as payment in full for covered services.
- While members may receive their dental care from any licensed dentist (no referrals are necessary), receiving dental care from one of the in-network dentists provides significant savings and less paperwork for the member.
- In-network dentists are reimbursed directly by BCBSNM, so members only pay coinsurance and don't have to file claim forms.
- Members usually pay the full amount for services received from an out-of-network provider and file a claim form.
Are there any waiting periods for dental services?
No. Dental services are available to your employees when they become eligible for coverage under your group's plan. For example, you may provide benefits on the date of hire, while other employers make benefits available on the first of the month following the employee's date of hire.
Normally, the "old" carrier will provide benefits for dental treatment that has already started. If the date a member started treatment is before the carrier change, then the former carrier will provide benefits for covered services. Orthodontic services are an exception to this rule. If the new carrier provides orthodontic benefits, they will provide benefits for the remaining services, up to the benefit limit.
If I change dental insurance carriers during the middle of the year, and some of my employees have already paid their deductible, will they have a new deductible for the rest of the year with the new carrier?
If the current carrier provides up-to-date utilization information for each member and the full deductible has been satisfied, the member will be credited for the deductible. Any benefit payment made by the carrier is charged against the member's annual maximum. If this utilization information is not provided for all members, a new deductible would need to be satisfied.
What if my employees have questions about their dental benefits?
If your employees have questions about their dental benefits, coverage, filing claims, or finding a contracting dentist, they should call Customer Service toll-free at (877) 723-5697 or email us.
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