If they are (or have joint custody), the primary carrier is through the parent whose birthday falls earlier in the year.If the client has coverage through a current and former employer, the current employer’s plan is primary.įor dependent children, the primary carrier depends on whether the child’s parents are married and live together. If the client doesn’t, but currently has two jobs that provide dental coverage, the primary carrier comes from whichever employer has provided coverage for the longest time.If the client does, the primary carrier is the one provided by his or her employer.Which insurance carrier is the primary depends on several factors.įor clients, the primary carrier depends on whether the client also has dental coverage through a spouse or domestic partner: Your clients and their dependent children may be eligible for dual coverage. That’s good to know! How do my clients know which is their primary carrier?

A client has two benefits-eligible jobs.A client and his or her spouse both have employer-sponsored coverage.There are several scenarios in which a client may have dual coverage: In a dual coverage scenario, the primary carrier (or primary plan) will pay a larger portion of the benefits, while the secondary carrier (or secondary plan) pays a smaller amount. Both plans won’t fully cover each approved procedure. This doesn’t mean double coverage, however. Are your clients aware of dual coverage and how it works? If not, they could be missing out on substantial savings on their dental care.ĭual coverage (or coordination of benefits), as the name implies, is when a person is covered under two dental plans.

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