Enhanced online tool offers members better dental care choices
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana--WellPoint, Inc. has announced the availability of an enhanced version of the Treatment Cost Advisor.
Powered by Subimo, the advisor is an innovative online cost-comparison tool that now offers dental procedure and service price comparisons to help dental members make informed decisions and help reduce their out-of-pocket dental expenses.
As part of WellPoint's ongoing commitment to consumer-driven healthcare and cost transparency, the addition of dental data builds on the already comprehensive pricing comparison information for medical care.
WellPoint has offered its health insurance members the Treatment Cost AdvisorSM for more than a year. This newly expanded version gives dental members an easy and innovative way to estimate costs for specific types of dental procedures, in addition to helping members determine how often they should receive these services.
"It is imperative that consumers weigh their medical and dental options carefully," said Derek Bridges, president, WellPoint Dental and Vision. "To assist with that process, WellPoint is pleased to offer a robust online tool that will give members an easy way to access accurate, straightforward pricing information on both medical and dental procedures so they can make more informed choices."
Cost estimates are available for services including routine cleanings, X-rays, fillings, root canals, teeth whitening, crowns, bridges, dentures and more.
Each dental cost estimate provides an explanation of the service and the typical out-of-pocket procedure costs that a member should expect to incur--before insurance benefits are applied--for both in-network and out-of-network dental services. Cost estimates are based on a comprehensive database of claims, reflecting the consumer's geographic region, age and gender.
In addition to providing dental procedure cost comparisons, the newly expanded Treatment Cost Advisor offers members: education on the costs of healthcare services and prescription drugs, "before insurance" and out-of-pocket cost estimates for both in-network and out-of-network health-care services and health-care tools and resources, including a comprehensive medical encyclopedia.
