The final weeks of the year can be a great time to get dental work done that you have been putting off while getting the most out of your dental coverage. Most dental plans reset at the beginning of the year, and if you don’t use it, you lose it. However, it’s essential to understand how your plan works to make sure you use it to your advantage. A few smart tips can help you to make the most out of your plan.
Timing is Everything
While you want to make sure you use the dental benefits you are paying for all year, you also need to make sure you don’t max out your plan. Therefore, it’s important to schedule your procedures to make the most of your dental coverage.
For example, if your dentist recommends multiple fillings, root canal, and a crown, you will likely exceed your maximum benefits and end up paying for many of these procedures out of pocket. However, as long as it is not an emergency, you can speak with your dentist and plan your treatment accordingly. Schedule part of your treatment this year and the rest once your benefits reset – usually after the 1st of the year. Doing this could nearly double the amount of coverage you can use.
Know your Insurance Plan’s Limits
If a claim is filed by your dentist and not paid because you have reached your annual maximum, you will be responsible for the difference. As most dental insurance plans have an annual maximum, it helps when you know your limit. Contact your insurance company to find out how much is still available to you. Some plans also treat visits to your regular dentist differently from a visit to a specialist. Moreover, many insurance companies limit the number of office visits, dental cleanings, and x-rays that they cover annually. Know and understand how your plan manages these limitations.
Managing your Dental Plan
If you know you will require extensive dental treatment, you can plan the stages of the treatment to maximize your insurance plan payments. If you need dental work performed and have not used all of your benefits for the year, try to do it before it expires. This will give you a new annual maximum when the policy year renews, leaving available funds for other dental work.
Do you have a Flex Spending Plan or Health Savings Plan?
If you have a health care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) to cover copayments, deductibles, or other costs, now is the time to use it. Not only can an FSA reduce your taxes, but it may also cover procedures not usually covered by traditional insurance. A flexible spending account often is a “use it or lose it” type of benefit. If you don’t spend down your money by a specified date during a calendar year, you lose those funds.
Take Advantage of Preventive Care
The best way to spend less on extensive dental work is not to need extensive dental work. Most plans will cover regular cleanings and preventive treatments at 100 percent. The least expensive way to keep your dentist bill low is to maintain good oral health. When you do this routinely, you will find that problems are detected early and require less costly treatment to repair. Always practice good oral hygiene and see the dentist twice a year which can prevent or reverse gum disease and prevent cavities.
Call us today at 405-857-6453 or schedule your dental appointment online, and we assure you we can work you into the schedule before 2020 is over.
