Do you have dental insurance? If you do, how do you view your policy? Do you see it as a monthly investment that can bring returns year after year, or is it a backup plan that will help you out if you ever face an oral health crisis? If the latter is the case, you may be missing out on your policy’s true value. In this article, a dentist in Eastford offers five simple and practical tips to help you maximize your dental insurance benefits in 2020.
1. Do Not Neglect Preventive Care
In line with popular expert recommendations, most insurance companies let their policyholders attend two cleanings and checkups each year. In most cases, you will pay little or nothing out of pocket for these appointments. Taking advantage of this provision will help you keep a fresh smile and possibly spare you from serious oral health problems down the road. If you have not yet been to your second checkup of 2020, the time to schedule it is right now.
2. Promptly Schedule Restorative Care
If your dentist notices a minor oral health problem during your checkup, you should schedule any recommended treatment as soon as possible. In part, this is because of the way dental insurance works. Most policies offer a high level of coverage for minor treatments, such as fillings. However, if a dental issue worsens to the point where you require a major treatment, your policy might cover just half of the cost.
3. Remember that Benefits Expire
PPO dental insurance usually works on a calendar-year basis. On January 1, you are given an annual maximum. This maximum represents the highest dollar amount that your insurer is willing to pay out for approved services within the year. On December 31, any unused portion of that maximum expires. It is extremely rare for policies to have any sort of rollover provision. Therefore, if you know you need a certain treatment, it would be wise to schedule it soon — before your 2020 benefits are gone forever.
4. Be Strategic with Major Procedures
If you require a major procedure, it may take multiple appointments to complete. You can use that fact to your advantage. You can ask your dental team to schedule part of your treatment in 2020 and part of it in 2021. You thereby give yourself the opportunity to use two annual maximums instead of just one.
5. Do Not Forget Your FSA
A flexible spending account (FSA) contains tax-free money that you can use for dental or medical purposes. FSAs often expire at the end of the calendar year, so now is your chance to consider how you can combine your FSA with your insurance to pay for the treatment you need.
Are you using your 2020 dental insurance to the full? Applying the above tips can help you to do just that.
Meet the Practice
Comprehensive Dental Associates of Central Connecticut features an expansive team of general dentists and specialists, all of whom are eager to provide top-quality care to patients. We are an insurance-friendly practice and will be happy to work with you to maximize your benefits. To learn more about us and how we can assist you, contact us at 860-568-3366.