Dental Benefits, Plan Effective Date vs Waiting Periods.
There is a big difference between a plan effective date and a plan waiting periods though often times people are mistaking what a waiting period is.
Effective Date: A plan effective date is the date on which the member’s coverage begins. Yet this does not mean all coverages under the plan is effective at the effective date of the plan. Some plans such as PPO have waiting periods.
Waiting Periods: Waiting periods is the time frame a member has to wait for certain services/benefits under the plan to be effective. Example: Although your plan may have an effective date of January 1st, if the plan has a six month waiting period for basic services you are waiting until July 1st in this example before receiving benefits/coverages for basics services such as fillings.