Many dental insurance plans revolve around the calendar year. That means if any benefits are remaining after December 31st, they will be lost once the plan resets. If you want to get your money’s worth out of your plan, you need to make sure you maximize dental insurance benefits while they’re still available. Below are 4 tips that can help you do just that.
1. Visit Your Dentist at Least Twice a Year
Scheduling a dental checkup once every six months is one of the most basic ways you can use your dental insurance. You can usually expect your plan to cover most or all of the cost of preventive dentistry. Additionally, regular dental visits can lower your risk for cavities, gum disease, and other oral health issues that could potentially cost extra to treat. In other words, stopping dental problems before they start could potentially save you a lot of money.
2. Choose a Dentist That’s In-Network
A practice that’s in-network with your insurance company has agreed to set a cap on the cost of certain services. Many dental offices will accept out-of-network plans, but patients with in-network plans tend to enjoy better savings. If you check a practice’s website, you should be able to find a list of plans they are in-network with; check to see if your own insurance is listed. Remember that you can always call to see if they accept any plans that aren’t noted on their site.
3. Be Proactive About Dental Care
Dental insurance typically follows a 100-80-50 structure where preventive care is 100% covered, basic care is 80% covered, and major treatments are 50% covered. That means your dental insurance company is willing to pay more to treat smaller dental issues compared to severe problems that require complex care. As such, seeing a dentist as soon as you realize something is wrong with your oral health could go a long way toward helping you maximize your benefits while minimizing out-of-pocket costs.
4. Plan Longer Treatments Carefully
Some treatments will require more than one appointment. A good strategy for using your insurance to pay for such services is to schedule it so that part of it is done before the end of the year and the other part is completed afterward. The idea is that you’ll be able to use the benefits you currently have to help pay for the initial treatment; then, once your plan resets, you can use your new benefits to take care of the rest.
Your dental team can help explain the finer points of your dental coverage to you and help you come up with a plan to maximize your benefits before 2023. Reach out to your practice today to see if you’re truly getting the most from your insurance.
About the Author
Dr. Sung-Hee Lee was born and raised in South Korea. She has lived in Dallas for more than 20 years and is happy to have the opportunity to help her local friends and neighbors smile. Her practice, Sunny Smile Dental, is in-network with many popular insurance plans including MetLife, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Humana, and Delta Dental. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Lee, visit her website or call (972) 481-8800.