Maximize Your Dental Benefits
Why You Should Use Your Benefits Before Year-End
As the year draws to a close, many people find themselves in a rush to wrap up their personal and professional goals. We are often focused on preparing for the holidays and travel arrangements near year end. However, one important aspect often gets overlooked: utilizing dental insurance benefits before they expire.
Understanding how to make the most of your dental plan can save you money, ensure optimal oral health, and set you up for a healthier year ahead.
Understanding Your Dental Insurance Benefits
Most dental insurance plans operate on a calendar year, which means that any unused benefits typically reset on January 1. This can include coverage for routine check-ups, cleanings, and any additional treatments you might need.
Here’s why it's crucial to take action ASAP:
1. Maximize Your Financial Benefits
Dental insurance often comes with a yearly maximum benefit limit—typically ranging from $1,000 to $2,500. If you don’t use these benefits, they won’t roll over to the next year. This means any money you could have saved on necessary treatments will be lost. By scheduling and completing your dental work before year-end, you can maximize your plan's value. Remember you’ve paid for this benefit through monthly premiums taken out of your paycheck. Get your investment’s worth out of it!
2. Preventive Care is Key
Most insurance plans will pay most or all of your bill for preventative care including a new patient visit, routine cleanings, check-ups, and Xrays. These visits are crucial for maintaining good oral health and catching potential issues early. If you’ve been putting off your 6-month cleanings or exams, now is the perfect time to get them scheduled. Investing in preventive care can save you from more costly treatments down the road.
3. Address Any Dental Issues
If you've been experiencing dental issues—whether it’s tooth sensitivity, pain, or simply a lingering concern about your oral health—now is the time to address them. Using your benefits for necessary treatments, such as fillings, crowns, or other procedures, can prevent more serious problems and expenses later. Remember, you are paying to have this policy, so make it work for you!
4. Utilize FSA or HSA Funds
If you have a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA), these funds often also have year-end deadlines. Utilizing these accounts for dental procedures can provide additional savings and ensure you don’t lose any tax advantages associated with your health spending. Be sure to check your balances and use them before they expire! You get a double benefit by being able to max out your insurance company’s payment on your care in addition to paying any remaining balance with pre-tax money!
Steps to Take Before Year-End:
1. Review Your Plan
Take the time to understand your dental insurance policy. Check your remaining benefits, deductible, and any restrictions or requirements for coverage. This knowledge will empower you to make informed decisions about your dental care. If you aren’t sure how to review your policy, let us do it for you!
2. Schedule Appointments Early
Dentists often get busy as the year comes to an end, and offices close for the holidays. To ensure you get the care you need, schedule your appointments as early as possible. If you need multiple treatments, discuss this with your dentist so they can help you plan accordingly. Some treatment may need multiple appointments or additional time for labs to fabricate items built in.
3. Prioritize Necessary Treatments
If you have treatments that you’ve been postponing, prioritize these. Talk to your dentist about what needs to be done and how it fits within your remaining benefits. They can help you create a plan to maximize your coverage.
4. Keep Records
After your appointments, keep records of the treatments and services you’ve received, along with any receipts. This documentation can be useful for future reference and will help you stay organized for your next benefits period.
Conclusion
As the year winds down, don’t overlook the importance of using your dental insurance benefits. Not only can you save money and ensure you’re addressing any oral health issues, but also you can also set a positive foundation for the upcoming year.
Dental insurance companies can payout millions in unused benefits each year to their officers and parent companies to remain as non-profits. For example, while Delta Dental of Massachusetts is not-for-profit, its 2019 IRS form 990 shows it “contributed” $291 million to its parent company and paid only $177 million for patients that same year. In 2018, the figures were $335 million vs $184 million. Rather than let the insurance companies profit, take advantage and get an appointment on the books today! Remember, you are paying for your dental insurance policy through your paycheck each week already. The people who should be benefiting from dental insurance benefits are patients, not insurance companies!
Most offices book patient out several weeks to months at a time, so now is the time to call to ensure there’s enough time to get all of your needs addressed before business close for the holidays and your benefits are lost.
Prioritize your dental care today and make the most of your hard-earned benefits—your smile will thank you!