Haven’t Utilized Your 2019 Dental Benefits Yet? Now’s the Time!

Have you fully utilized your 2019 dental insurance benefits yet? Chances are the answer is no; many patients will let their policy reset at the end of the year without having taken advantage of their plan. Over the years, this could be costing you hundreds of dollars in dental savings – but it doesn’t have to! Here’s why it’s important to use your insurance benefits as much as possible – as well as ways a visit to your family dentist can help maximize them!

Why is Using Dental Insurance Benefits So Important?

Dental plans will typically have a yearly maximum. That’s the most that your carrier is willing to pay for dental care during one year’s time (which is typically based around the calendar year). This money won’t stay available once the new year arrives; instead, the yearly maximum will reset, and anything that was left over will be lost. If you pay your premiums but don’t take advantage of the money set aside by your plan, you could be losing hundreds of dental dollars.

Furthermore, once the year ends and your plan resets, you’ll have to meet your deductible again before insurance will pay for anything. You also run the risk that your dentist will raise their rates, which in turn will raise the amount you have to pay out of pocket. Thus, to save yourself the most money while making sure your smile receives the care it needs to remain healthy and bright, it’s better to use your dental benefits to the fullest extent possible before the year ends.

What Does Insurance Normally Cover?

While every policy is different, you can normally expect dental insurance to cover some portion of the cost for:

• Preventive care such as checkups and cleanings.
• Basic procedures such as fillings and root canals.
• Major procedures such as dental crown placement.

Of course, different plans will provide different levels of coverage depending on the type of treatment and which dentist you visit.

How Can You Maximize Dental Insurance?

First, take the time to review your coverage and make sure you really understand it. Pay attention to what’s offered and what the limitations are. The next step is to make an appointment with your dentist; you should be having at least two preventive checkups and cleanings every year if you want to utilize your plan to the fullest (as well as prevent cavities and gum disease so that you don’t have to pay for expensive treatments later on). During these visits, be sure to ask about any treatments that could benefit your oral health while also letting you take advantage of your yearly maximum.

Using your insurance to the fullest possible extent requires careful planning and proactiveness on your part. Take the first steps today to make sure that you’re getting your money’s worth out of your plan – as well as your dentist!

About the Practice

At Bear Creek Family Dentistry, our team of general dentists, pediatric dentists, orthodontists, oral surgeons and prosthodontists bring you and your children top quality dental care in Dallas. We are in network with most major dental insurance plans, including Metlife, Humana, Delta Dental, United Healthcare, and many more. To find out if we take your plan and schedule an appointment, visit our website or call (972) 490-1600.