For every dollar spent on preventive dental services, an estimated $50 is saved on more expensive and complicated procedures, according to a PBS interview with Dr. James Stephens, president of the California Dental Association. By attending your regular checkups and cleanings with your dentist at LakeView, you see how much money you can save down the road. Let’s talk about why now, before the end of 2019, is the perfect time to book that appointment.
Use It or Lose It
The majority of dental insurance plans have something called a yearly maximum, which is the most amount of money that your plan will pay for your care during one calendar year. Usually, this runs between $1,000 and $1,500, depending on your individual policy. If you don’t use this money, it just rolls over into the next year, right? Wrong!
It doesn’t matter how much money you have left on your account. Once 2019 becomes 2020, all that money will go back to the insurance company and you won’t be able to use it. Most dental insurance providers don’t really talk about this because they want to keep that money from you. Instead of losing benefits you’re already paying for, let’s talk about how to make the most of your dental insurance before the year runs out.
Go to Your Second Checkup and Cleaning
Your family dentist in LakeView, and most dentists actually, will recommend getting a dental checkup and cleaning twice a year. However, most people only get one, if any. This is just as bad for your wallet as it is for your pearly whites. Most dental insurance plans cover preventive services like cleanings and checkups 100 percent, so you’re really missing out if you’re not attending them. So, go ahead and schedule that second appointment. You will very likely pay next to nothing out-of-pocket for it!
Meet Your Deductible
A deductible is the amount of money you have to pay out-of-pocket before your insurance will start paying for your care. Much like your yearly maximum, this also does not roll over at the beginning of the new year. If you’ve already met your deductible for 2019, now is the perfect time to get that filling or crown or whatever you need to repair your smile. If you wait until next year, you could be paying significantly more money for the exact same procedure, and you don’t want that.
By going to the dentist for preventive care, you can prevent serious dental problems like cavities from developing down the road. You can also save some serious money!
About the Author
Dr. Robert William Wood has 50 years of experience and counting as a dentist. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from Washington University’s Dental School. The team at his practice, LakeView Family Dental, is more than happy to file claims for most PPO dental insurance plans and help patients maximize their benefits. To learn more, click here or call (248) 363-3304.