Do you have dental insurance? Many people with a dental policy view it as a backup plan to help them out financially if they ever face an oral health emergency. However, that perspective robs you of the opportunity to get the greatest possible value out of your coverage. How can you maximize your dental insurance benefits? A dentist in Auburn is here to share five useful and simple tips.
1. Regularly Attend Preventive Appointments
Most dental insurance companies allow their policyholders to attend two checkups and cleanings each year, often without paying anything out of pocket. These preventive appointments are vital for your oral health because they give your dentist the chance to diagnose and treat oral health issues before they become serious. If you have not yet scheduled your second (or first) dental checkup of 2020, now is the time to get it on the books.
2. Schedule Restorative Treatment ASAP
During your checkup, your dentist might point out that you have a small cavity, gingivitis, or another oral health problem. It is important that you schedule any recommended restorative treatment as soon as possible. Doing so will benefit you financially because insurance policies tend to provide higher levels of coverage for minor care. For example, your plan might cover fillings at 80%. However, if you let a cavity become so severe that you require a major procedure, your plan might cover only 50% of the cost.
3. Remember that Benefits Expire
Most dental insurance plans operate on a calendar-year basis. Each January 1, you are allotted an annual maximum. This maximum represents the greatest amount that your insurer is willing to pay out for treatment throughout the year. On December 31, any unused portion of that maximum will disappear. Very few plans have any sort of rollover provision. Hence, if you know you need a certain treatment, the best time to schedule it is now — before the remainder of your 2020 benefits disappears forever.
4. Be Strategic with Major Procedures
In many cases, major procedures take multiple appointments to complete. You can use this to your financial advantage by scheduling a portion of a treatment this year and the rest of it next year. You can thus leverage two annual maximums rather than just one.
5. Utilize Your FSA
Many individuals have a flexible spending account (FSA) in addition to their regular insurance. FSAs usually expire at the end of the calendar year, so it would be prudent to think about combining your FSA with your insurance to pay for any necessary dental treatment.
The clock is ticking on your 2020 dental insurance benefits! Now is the time to consider how you can use your coverage to the full.
Meet the Practice
Drs. Scott Beckerman and Ashley Brubaker are proud to lead the team of dental professionals at Willow Run Dental Association. They strive to provide comprehensive, personal care at a reasonable price. Our team is happy to accept payment from most PPO dental insurance plans, and we would be pleased to help you understand and utilize your coverage. To learn more about us and how we can assist you, contact us at 207-783-0261.