If you have dental insurance, you own a precious resource that can do much to help you safeguard your oral health. But how do you use your coverage? Many people view their policy as nothing more than a backup plan that will mitigate the expense of a dental emergency. However, while insurance is certainly valuable when you face an oral health crisis, it is useful for so much more than that! How can you maximize your dental insurance benefits in 2020? A dentist in Woodbridge is here to discuss five useful tips.
1. Keep Up with Preventive Care
It is common for dental insurance companies to allow policyholders to attend two checkups and cleanings each year without paying anything out of pocket. These preventive appointments are essential for your oral health because they allow your dentist to diagnose and treat problems with your teeth and gums before they become serious.
2. Schedule Restorative Treatment ASAP
If your checkup reveals any developing oral health problems, you should schedule recommended restorative treatments as soon as possible. In part, that is because insurance offers varying levels of coverage for different services. For instance, fillings are usually covered at 70% – 80%, while major treatments might be covered at a mere 50%. Hence, it is in your best financial interests to address decay, gum disease, and other issues while they are still relatively simple to treat.
3. Remember that Benefits Do Not Roll Over
Dental insurance plans usually operate on a calendar-year basis. On January 1, you are given an annual maximum. This maximum is the highest dollar amount that your insurance company is willing to pay out for dental treatments throughout the year. On December 31, any unused portion of your annual maximum disappears. Very few plans have any type of rollover provision. Therefore, if you know you require a certain treatment, the prime time to schedule it is now — before your 2020 benefits disappear forever.
4. Be Strategic with Major Procedures
Some major procedures require multiple appointments to complete. You can use this to your advantage by scheduling part of a treatment in 2020 and the rest of it in 2021. By doing so, you can leverage two annual maximums instead of just one.
5. Utilize Your FSA
Do you have a flexible spending account (FSA) in addition to your regular insurance? Since FSAs typically expire at the end of the calendar year, it would be wise to consider how you can combine your insurance with your FSA to get the dental care you need in 2020.
Are you doing all you can to maximize your 2020 dental insurance benefits? The above tips can help you get the most out of your policy.
Meet the Practice
New Haven Dental Group in Woodbridge boasts an expansive team of general dentists and specialists who are ready to provide top-tier care to patients for a reasonable price. We are happy to accept payment from virtually any PPO insurance, and our front office staff will be delighted to help you understand and navigate your coverage. To learn more about how we can assist you, contact us at 203-389-7080.