Dental insurance can be confusing, but if you know how to use it, you could be saving hundreds of dollars every year. What many people don’t know is that most dental insurance plans renew on January 1st. This means that you won’t have access to unused benefits—they don’t roll over. This leaves Americans missing out on literally billions of dental dollars each year. Read on to learn how to maximize your insurance and why it’s important to use your benefits sooner rather than later.
Keep Your Yearly Maximum in Mind
It all starts with your yearly maximum. This is the amount your dental insurance is willing to pay for your dental care in one year. Usually around $1,000, the yearly maximum renews at the end of each year, meaning that any unused dollars will be gone forever. Once you know your number, you can talk to your dentist about the dentistry you may need in the upcoming year. From there, you can better plan your benefits to use them before January 1st rolls around.
One Deductible per Year
Every year, you’ll pay a deductible, which is usually about $50. This fee essentially unlocks access to your insurance benefits, so once you pay it, try to fit in the dentistry you need into that year. This can be done by ensuring that you have at least two regular dental checkups and cleanings scheduled annually. That way, you won’t have to pay a deductible for each of your appointments. Sometimes, deductibles can be higher for an out-of-network dentist.
You’re Already Paying Premiums
If you’re already paying for insurance, you should definitely take advantage of your insurance benefits. If you aren’t seeing your dentist for routine care and restorative work, you’re essentially throwing away the money you spend on premiums each month. Plus, these fees are just fractions of the amount that your dental insurance could cover in dental work. Routine visits also help prevent and detect dental problems like gum disease, cavities, and even oral cancer.
Another Reason to Use Your Benefits Now
Besides saving money, insurance benefits can save something else, your health. When you avoid seeing the dentist, you’re putting yourself at risk of more extensive and expensive treatments in the future. Regular dental appointments give your dentist an opportunity to catch serious problems before they become worse. This keeps you healthy, but it also keeps more money in your pocket by utilizing your insurance and avoiding problems that can incur major costs like oral cancer and dental restoration.
Are you ready to save money and stay healthy? Remember that now is a better time than any to see your dentist because your yearly maximum will renew in just a few months!
About the Practice
At Darby Creek Dental, we have a team of 3 expert dentists on staff. They never want finances to get in the way of dentistry, which is why they accept Cigna Dental, Delta Dental, MetLife insurance and more. If you have any questions, they can be reached through their website or by phone at (937) 644-8822.