Are you confused by all of the technical-sounding language that dental insurance companies use? If so, you’re far from alone; millions of Americans don’t completely understand how their dental insurance works. Unfortunately, not knowing how to take full advantage of your insurance benefits means you might end up losing money! On the bright side, there are only three things you need to do to maximize dental insurance benefits and make the most of your plan.
1. Avoid Expensive Dental Work with Preventive Care
Keeping cavities at bay involves more than just brushing and flossing every day. You’ll also need to visit your dentist twice a year for routine checkups and cleanings. Even if your teeth and gums feel fine, these appointments are still crucial. That’s because your dentist can spot early signs of oral health problems and treat them long before you would have noticed something was wrong. Ultimately, this saves you from needing more expensive procedures later on.
Better yet, most dental insurance providers cover the cost of two checkups and cleanings each year, so you may not have to pay a penny out-of-pocket! You might as well use the coverage you’re already paying for with your premiums to keep your smile healthy and save money in the long run.
2. Find Out When Your Insurance Benefits Expire
Even though no two dental insurance policies are exactly alike, the vast majority of them reset when a calendar year ends. At the beginning of each year, you’re allotted an annual maximum – the amount of money that your insurance company will put toward your dental care in a given year. If you don’t end up using all of these benefits, the leftover coverage will most likely NOT carry over into the next year.
To avoid letting the benefits you’re entitled to go to waste, find out how much of your annual maximum is left and how much time you have left before it resets.
3. Schedule Additional Procedures ASAP
If you need any dental treatments that are more extensive than a simple exam, cleaning, or X-rays, then you’ll want to schedule them as soon as you can. Ideally, get them taken care of before 2021 ends. That way, you can put all or most of your remaining annual maximum toward your treatments. Not only does this ensure that your coverage does not go to waste, but it also significantly reduces your out-of-pocket expenses.
Now you should have a basic understanding of how to maximize your dental insurance benefits. If you still have questions, feel free to reach out to your dentist. Their team is there to help you!
About the Practice
At LakeView Family Dental, our team of skilled dentists are able to meet virtually all of our patients’ oral health needs under one roof, streamlining care for patients of all ages. We also strive to make dental treatments affordable. To that end, we’ll file claims for most PPO plans, but we’re in-network with Delta Dental Premier, Cigna, Guardian, and AlwaysCare. To learn more about making the most of your dental insurance benefits, contact us at 248-363-3304.