Your Dentist Dental Blue Freedom offers a large network of dentists, including participating dentists in Massachusetts and nationwide. When searching for a network dentist, Dental Blue Freedom members can choose from the Dental Blue PPO (Preferred Dentist) or Dental Blue (Participating Dentist) networks. Using a network dentist will minimize your out-of-pocket expenses. If you would like help choosing a dentist, or already have a dentist and want to know if they participate with your plan, you can call the dentist, look at the current dental provider directory, or call Member Service at the toll-free phone number shown on your Dental Blue ID card. You can also access the online dental provider directory at bluecrossma.org . Your Benefits You will receive the greatest value if you visit a preferred dentist, because you will maximize  the  amount  of  benefits  received  under  your  plan. The  dental  benefits  your  plan  covers  are  subject  to  the  calendar-year  deductible  and  coinsurance  (if  applicable),  and  benefit  maximum  amounts  shown  in  the  chart. For members under age 13, these benefits (not including orthodontic services) are covered in full up until the calendar-year benefit maximum. The calendar year begins on January 1 and ends on December 31 of each year. The chart also shows the percentage of costs your plan will pay for covered dental services.  Many  of  the  covered  services  have  specific  time  or  age  limits.  Pre-Treatment Estimates If your dentist expects that your dental treatment will involve covered services that will cost more than $250, Blue Cross Blue Shield recommends that your dentist send a copy of the “treatment plan” to Blue Cross Blue Shield before services are provided. A treatment plan is a detailed description of the procedures that the dentist plans to perform and includes an estimate of the charge for each service. Once the treatment plan is reviewed, you and your dentist  will  be  notified  of  the  benefits  available. Remember, the payment estimate is based on your eligibility status and the amount  of  your  calendar-year  or  lifetime  benefit  maximum  at  the  time  the  estimate is received and reviewed. (The actual payment may differ if your available  calendar-year  or  lifetime  benefit  maximum  or  eligibility  status  has changed.) Multi-Stage Procedures Your  dental  plan  provides  benefits  for  multi-stage  procedures  (procedures  that  require more than one visit, such as crowns, dentures and root canals) as long as you are enrolled in the plan on the date that the multi-stage procedure is completed. A participating dentist will send a claim for a multi-stage procedure to Blue Cross Blue Shield only after the completion date of the procedure. You will be responsible for all charges for multi-stage procedures if your plan has been cancelled before the completion date of the procedure. How Network Dentists Are Paid - Preferred Dentists You will receive the greatest value if you visit a preferred dentist, because you will maximize  the  amount  of  benefits  received  under  your  plan. Payments are calculated based on the provisions of the Blue Cross Blue Shield preferred dentist’s payment agreement and the dentist’s allowed charge that is in effect at the time the covered dental service is provided. Preferred dentists agree to accept the allowed charge as payment in full. You pay your deductible and coinsurance (if applicable), and any allowed charges beyond your calendar-year or  lifetime  benefit  maximum. How Network Dentists Are Paid - Participating Dentists For dentists who participate with Blue Cross Blue Shield, but do not have a Blue  Cross  Blue  Shield  preferred  provider  contract,  benefits  are  calculated  based  on the provisions of the participating dentist’s payment agreement and the dentist’s allowed charge. These dentists agree to accept the allowed charge as payment in full. You pay your deductible and coinsurance (if applicable), and any allowed  charges  beyond  your  calendar-year  or  lifetime  benefit  maximum.  How Out-of-Network Dentists Are Paid - Non-Preferred or Non-Participating Dentists Benefits  for  covered  services  by  a  non-preferred  or  non-participating  dentist  are  provided based on the allowed charge or the dentist’s actual charge, whichever is less. The allowed charge is based on a schedule of charges. You may be responsible for any difference between the dentist’s actual charge or the allowed charge, whichever is less. You are also responsible for your deductible and coinsurance (if applicable), and charges beyond your calendar-year or lifetime benefit  maximum. Orthodontic Benefits Your  plan  includes  orthodontic  coverage.  The  lifetime  benefit  maximum  is  not  part  of  your  calendar-year  benefit  maximum;  it  applies  only  to  orthodontic  services. You are responsible for your coinsurance (if applicable) and any charges beyond  your  lifetime  benefit  maximum.  Benefits  are  available  on  your  effective  date. If your orthodontic treatment began before you were covered under Dental Blue Freedom, a monthly fee will be paid for your remaining orthodontic visits until  either  your  treatment  is  completed  or  the  lifetime  benefit  maximum  is  exhausted,  whichever  comes  first. Welcome to Dental Blue freedom, A DENTAL PLAN DESIGNED TO MANAGE THE COST OF DENTAL SERVICES.