Did you know that you can actually save hundreds of dollars by using all of your dental benefits by the end of the year? If your dental insurance plan runs on a calendar year, instead of a fiscal year and all of the allotted benefits are not used, you lose them. Here are a few reasons why you should use your dental benefits before the end-of-the-year.
Yearly Maximum
Your dental insurance plan will typically provide you with a maximum of what you can spend on your dental care per year. On the average, most people receive about $1000 per year to spend from January 1 to December 31, so it is important to use this money, especially if you have some left over near the end of the year. The maximum benefits are usually reset at the end of the year, so if you do not use them, they will be forfeited.
Deductible
The deductible is the amount of money that you are required to pay out-of-pocket before your insurance company will pay for any services provided by your dentist. Although the average amount of the deductible varies from policy to policy, the one thing all deductibles have in common is that they will start over again in the new year. Once your deductible is paid, the dental insurance will pay for the rest (up to a certain amount), but if you fail to use all of the allowable dental benefits before the end of the year, the money disappears. This means you will be subjected to paying the same deductibles and having the same limits in the following year, which may cost you more in out-of-pocket expenses than is really necessary.
Tips to Use Benefits
If the only reason you have gone to the dentist this year is for a cleaning, you have probably only used a portion of your dental benefits. Near the end of the year is the perfect time to have procedures done that you may have been putting off, such as restorative dental to repair a weak, cracked or damaged tooth.
Dental problems don’t usually get better over time. When you delay treatment, you may be at risk for more extensive as well as expensive treatment later on. For example, what may be a small cavity right now could turn into a tooth extraction or a root canal later on. Properly taking care of your teeth now, will benefit your oral health in the long run. Remember, you have paid your insurance premiums all year, so you have earned your dental benefits; don’t let them get away before they expire at the years end.
So call for an appointment today to get your teeth and gums in the holiday spirit! 619-285-1200
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Posted in: Cosmetic Dentistry, cosmetic dentists, Crowns, dentists, Dentures, General Dentistry, Hygiene, Oral Care, Prosthodontics, Restorative Dentistry, teeth whitening