Every year, millions of Americans lose billions of dollars in dental insurance benefits without even knowing it. This is because most insurance plans run on a “use it or lose it” system, meaning if you have leftover benefits at the end of the year, they do NOT roll over into the next year. In order to save money and stay healthy, it’s important to maximize your dental insurance benefits before the end of the year. Keep reading to learn how.
Know Your Yearly Maximum,
Your yearly maximum is a very important number to know. It’s the dollar amount that your insurance company will cover your care in a calendar year. For most plans, the yearly maximum is around $1,000. The key to maximizing your dental insurance benefits is to reach or even exceed this number.
Pay Your Deductible,
Your deductible is the amount you have to pay out-of-pocket before your insurance company steps in and starts covering your care. Dental insurance deductibles are typically low and therefore easy to meet. After you pay for it, it’s good for the whole rest of the year. Just like your annual maximum, your deductible will not roll over into the new year. If you’ve already met your deductible, now is the perfect time of year to get the treatment you need.
Overlap Treatment
Maybe you have an expensive, multi-part dental procedure you need to get done. It can actually save you money by starting it before January 1st and finishing it afterward by reducing out-of-pocket costs.
Don’t Waste Your Premiums
If you’re paying your monthly premiums, then you should definitely be cashing in on your insurance benefits. Even if you don’t need to get dental work done, you should still visit your dentist twice a year for routine cleanings and checkups to look for early signs of cavities, gum disease, and oral cancer. Preventive visits like these are usually covered 100% by your insurance.
Get Your Dental Issues Taken Care Of.
It’s all too easy to put off needed dental work, whether it’s due to cost, time issues, or dental anxiety. Believe it or not, putting off dental treatment can put you more at risk for more extensive and costly treatments down the road. That’s why you should see your dentist at least once every six months to utilize your benefits and keep your mouth as healthy as possible.
Now that you know how to maximize your dental insurance benefits, do you have an appointment scheduled before the end of the year? Click here to take your next step and schedule your appointment with our professional staff.
Don’t forget, our mission is always to get our patients the dental care they need at a price they can afford. Do not let a lack of dental coverage or maxed out benefits compromise your oral health. Click here to see how our in-office savings plan program can save you up to 70% on your dental treatments while giving each member 1 Free Teeth Cleaning per member per year! You can also ask us about Flex Spending and Care Credit. At County Dental, we also participate with most dental insurances so feel free to ask us how we can support you in financing your oral health habits.
