There are a number of important reasons why you should make use of your dental insurance benefit before the end of the year. Making the most of unused dental insurance plan benefits is a smart way to maintain good oral health and overall wellness. Keep in mind that if your dental insurance plan is on a calendar year, there are number of smart and effective ways to get the most out of your plan. For example, check your benefits each year to know what you have remaining before the year comes to an end. Anytime you are unsure of what benefits you may still have available it is easy to simply contact your dental office to obtain this information. Equally important is to make sure that you receive the treatment you need before you deductible resets.
Out-Of-Pocket Expenses
As a reminder, a deductible for dental care is the amount of money that a patient must pay to the dentist out-of-pocket prior to the insurance company paying for any dental services received. In most cases the deductible will be about $50 per year. This deductible begins again each year as the plan rolls over. Typically, dental insurance providers offer little to no coverage until the patient has met their out-of-pocket expenses. Keep this simple fact in mind and plan accordingly as a way to maximize your dental insurance benefits. It is also important to keep track of your annual maximum, which is the limit on how much an insurance company will pay for dental work in a given year.
Calendar Year Schedule
In most cases an insurance company will pay around $1000 per year per person for dental care. Always remember that if your plan is on a calendar year schedule that any unused benefits will not roll over to the next year. Those who pay monthly premiums to a dental insurance company should make it a point to have regular routine dental cleanings to prevent dental problems such as cavities or gum disease. Staying proactive in this regard maximizes the return on your investment in dental insurance while also ensuring the best possible dental health going forward. This makes sense especially considering the fact that dental problems that are left untreated can become more severe over time.
Premiums For Dental Insurance
Always avoid putting off treatment especially when you are paying monthly premiums for dental insurance. Delaying dental care can only result in more extensive and expensive treatment at a later time. For example, something as simple as a minor cavity could easily turn into a more expensive and more time-consuming procedure such as root canal treatment. As the end of the year approaches for those who are on a calendar based dental insurance program, it is best to use up the remaining benefits available to you prior to the plan rolling over. Contact your dentists in Pinole, Azadeh Hosseini, DDS and Ghazal Hosseini, DDS at Top Pinole Dental today to learn more about how to use your dental insurance benefits.
References:
[1] End of Year Considerations and Dental Insurance
[2] Patients' Information
[3] How Early Should Kids Visit Their Dentist?