Well, we’ve reached the halfway point of the year, and it’s a great time to think about your dental benefits that you obtain through your employer. Do you have any idea what your benefits actually are? Do you know how much dental benefit you have remaining in your plan year? Did you know that those benefits don’t roll over into the next year? Here are a few things to think about as we get into the last half of the year.
You have paid your insurance premiums all year – you have EARNED your
dental benefits, do not let them slip away before your remaining
benefits expire at year’s end.
1. Yearly Maximums
Your dental plan gives you a maximum of what can be spent on your
dental care on an annual basis. This amount varies between insurance
companies, and averages around $1000 per person per year. These
maximums are typically reset at the end of the year, and if you have
unused benefits, they will be forfeited.
2. Deductibles
The deductible is the amount of money that you pay out of pocket
before your benefits begin to take effect. The fee varies between
insurance companies and could be higher if you prefer to see a dentist
that is out of your network. When your plan rolls over, you are
required to pay your deductible again to start taking advantage of
your benefits.
3. Premiums
If you are paying for dental benefits, you should be taking advantage
of them! This sounds simple, but there are many people that do not
exercise their benefits and let the insurance company take that money
away from you, and put it straight into their own pockets.
4. Fee Increases
Another reason to use your benefits now is because it is always
possible that fees will be raised to accommodate for the cost of
living or increased material costs. An increase in fees can also
raise your copay.
5. Dental problems don’t get better over time
By delaying treatment, you may be opening the door for more extensive
treatment to be needed in the future. What may be a simple cavity now
can turn into a root canal or extraction down the road. Treat your
teeth with care now, and they will thank you for it in the long run.
We love to educate patients about their dental benefits so that they fully understand their plans. Stop by the office or give us a call if you are interested in finding out if you have any remaining benefits for the year. Even if you don’t have pending treatment we would love to give you great information about your plan. By completing your treatment before the end of the year, you will be able to maximize yours insurance benefits and enjoy better dental health.