At Broadway Dental, we understand that dental insurance can be confusing. You might not always know what’s covered, how much you’re paying for it, or whether you’re making the most of your benefits. One thing is clear: it’s easy to waste your dental benefits if you’re not careful. If you’ve been paying for insurance all year, using it effectively before your benefits reset is essential.
Understand Your Plan’s Details
The first step in ensuring you don’t waste your dental insurance is understanding what’s covered and how it works. Many people don’t realize the full scope of their benefits until it’s too late. Take a few minutes to review your policy or call your insurance provider to confirm the details. Most dental plans cover preventive care like cleanings, exams, and X-rays at little or no cost. If you haven’t used these services, now is the time to schedule an appointment.
Understanding your deductible and coverage limits is also crucial. Many plans have an annual deductible that must be met before the insurance starts paying for treatments. Once you’ve met your deductible, your insurance will typically cover a larger portion of the cost for treatments like fillings, crowns, or root canals. Knowing how much of your deductible you’ve met can help you decide whether to schedule treatments before the year ends.
Take Advantage of Preventive Care
One of the easiest ways to ensure you don’t waste your dental benefits is to take advantage of preventive care. Most dental insurance plans cover at least one cleaning and exam per year, and these services are often provided at little or no cost to you. Regular cleanings help prevent cavities, gum disease, and other dental issues, and they’re the best way to stay ahead of potential problems.
If you’ve already had your cleaning for the year, check whether your plan covers another one before the year ends. If you’re close to meeting your maximum coverage or deductible, now may be the best time to schedule that second cleaning or get additional preventive care like fluoride treatments.
Schedule Necessary Treatments Before Year-End
If you’ve been putting off dental work like fillings, crowns, or other treatments, now is the time to take action. Many insurance plans cover a percentage of the cost for these services, but if you wait until the new year, your benefits may reset, and you could end up paying more out of pocket.
If you’ve already met your deductible for the year, your insurance will typically cover a larger portion of the treatment costs. Scheduling these procedures before the year ends ensures you don’t miss out on the opportunity to save. If you’ve been putting off necessary treatments due to cost, now is the time to act before the year resets and you start over with a new deductible.
Maximize Your Coverage Limits
Dental insurance plans often have coverage limits, which means they will only pay for a certain amount of care each year. If you’ve already met your deductible, scheduling additional treatments or preventive visits can help you maximize these limits. Many plans cover preventive care like cleanings and exams at 100%, while insurance might cover other services at a lower percentage.
If your plan has a coverage cap, and you haven’t reached it yet, consider scheduling any remaining treatments or procedures. This allows you to take full advantage of your benefits and avoid paying for treatments out of pocket in the new year.
Don’t Wait for the Last Minute
As the year comes to a close, dental offices like Broadway Dental can become busier as patients rush to use their benefits before they expire. To avoid the stress and frustration of last-minute scheduling, booking your appointments as soon as possible is best. This way, you’ll ensure you get an appointment time that works best for your schedule and avoid any delays.
Waiting until the last minute can also mean less time to schedule necessary treatments. If you wait too long, you might not be able to fit in all the care you need before your benefits reset. The sooner you schedule, the better.