Dental Insurance Benefits – Take Advantage Before the End of the Year

Taking advantage of your dental insurance benefits before the end of the year is advantageous for most dental patients.  While most dental insurance plans run on a calendar year, a few run on a fiscal year.  This article will focus on calendar year dental benefits that expire December 31st of every year.  We have included a few reasons that one should consider while taking advantage of dental insurance benefits.

• Annual Maximum

The maximum amount of money that your insurance carrier will pay for your dental treatment within the 12 months of a calendar year is the annual maximum.  Each insurance company has their own yearly maximum ranging from $1000 to as high as $3000 for each beneficiary of the plan.  Any insurance benefits not used within the calendar year will not rollover to the following year.

• Premiums

The amount the policy-holder pays each month to the health plan to purchase health coverage is called the premium.  Often times, dental insurance may be included as part of the health insurance benefit package.  If you are paying your dental insurance premiums every month, it is wise to use your dental insurance to help pay for your treatment.

• Deductible

The amount of money that you must pay out-of pocket before your insurance company will pay for its share is called the deductible. The deductible fee varies from plan to plan and could be higher if you choose an out-of-network dentist. The average deductible for a dental insurance plan is usually around $50 per year. Your deductible starts all over again the following year when your plan rolls over.

• Fee Increases

Another reason to use your benefits before the end of the year is possible fee increases.  Some dentists raise their fees at the beginning of the year due to the increased cost of living, materials and equipment.  Fee increases also make your treatment more expensive.

• Delayed Treatment

Delaying dental treatment causes more extensive and expensive treatment down the road.  Teeth that require simple fillings can break down and lead to bigger restorations.  Teeth may also break down and if they fracture the wrong way possibly leading to extractions.

In summary, whether one has dental benefits or not, a patient should see his dentist on a regular basis for a checkup and cleaning, at minimum.  If any dental insurance benefits are available, it would be best to utilize coverage and complete treatment as soon as possible before the fees are raised and complications occur.

You may call our dental office, Elite Dental Arts at (212)681-0939 to schedule an appointment before the end of the year.  It could save you some money in the long run.

What other tips would you add to taking advantage of dental benefits before the end of the year?  Please share your thoughts and comments below.

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