Do you have dental benefits? Your insurance is a precious resource that can provide you with financial aid if you ever face a dental emergency. However, if that is all you use it for, you may be missing out on its real value. In this article, a dentist in Belmont shares five simple and useful tips to help you maximize your dental insurance benefits in 2020.
1. Keep Up with Preventive Care
It is customary for dental insurance companies to allow their customers to go to two checkups and cleanings each year. In most cases, you can attend these appointments while paying little to nothing out of pocket. If you have not yet visited your dentist for your second checkup of 2020 (or your first), the best time to schedule it is as soon as possible.
2. Schedule Restorative Treatment ASAP
If your dentist discovers a minor oral health problem during your checkup, it is in your best financial interests to schedule any recommended treatment as soon as possible. That is because dental insurance tends to cover minor restorative procedures, such as fillings, at 70% – 80%. If you delay treatment and a cavity worsens to the point where you require a major treatment, your insurance may cover just 50% of the price.
3. Remember that Benefits Expire
Most dental insurance plans operate on a calendar-year basis. At the beginning of the year, you are allotted an annual maximum. This maximum is the highest dollar amount that your insurance company is willing to pay out for approved services throughout the year. On December 31, any unused portion of that maximum will expire. It is rare for dental plans to have any sort of rollover allowance. Therefore, if you know you need a specific treatment, you should schedule it right away — before your 2020 benefits disappear forever.
4. Strategically Schedule Major Procedures
If your dentist recommends that you undergo a major treatment, its cost might exceed your annual maximum. However, because such treatments often require multiple appointments to complete, you can ask your dental team to schedule part of the procedure now and part of it next year. You will be able to use two annual maximums instead of only one.
5. Do Not Forget Your FSA
Do you have a flexible spending account (FSA) through your employer? Most FSAs expire at the end of the year, so now is the prime time to think about how you can combine your FSA with your dental insurance to get the care you need.
Are you doing all you can to get the greatest value from your 2020 dental insurance benefits? The above-listed tips will help you to accomplish just that.
About the Author
The Center for Contemporary Dentistry in Belmont features a talented team of four general dentists and specialists. Our practice is insurance-friendly, and we will be happy to help you navigate and maximize your coverage. To learn more about us and how we can serve you, contact us at 603-556-7047.