Many employer dental plans operate on a calendar-year schedule. This means that annual maximums, deductibles, and various benefits usually reset at the beginning of the new year. If you end the year with unused benefits, they are unlikely to carry over. To get the most out of your dental insurance, you have to use your dental benefits before the end of the year. Knowing how your dental insurance works and structuring your dental care to maximize your benefits can help you get the most out of your policy.
Three Benefits That Commonly Reset
There are three types of dental benefits that usually reset when the year ends.
- Annual maximum: The annual maximum is the amount that your dental insurance will pay toward your dental care in a given year. Unused coverage usually expires at the end of December.
- Deductible: The deductible is the price you must pay for dental care before your dental insurance kicks in. A deductible you’ve already met may start over in the new year, which means you’ll start paying toward the deductible again in January.
- Frequency benefits: Unused covered services, such as eligible cleanings, may be forfeited at the end of the calendar year. If you’re eligible for two cleanings per year and only choose to get one, you’ve missed out on a dental benefit.
Strategies to Maximize Dental Benefits
Keeping in mind that your dental benefits restart at the end of every year, there are many things you can do to maximize your dental benefits.
Plan Multi-Step Dental Treatment
When treatment involves several procedures, consider which dental concerns need attention first. Some procedures need to happen now, and other procedures may be able to wait. Know the cost of the recommended procedures and how much of the current annual maximum remains. Your dentist can tell you whether some treatments need to happen in this calendar year and what can wait until the next.
Once you have this information, you can plan your multi-step dental treatment to ensure that your dental insurance pays for as much care as possible over the course of two years.
Stay Informed About Your Coverage
Work with your dentist to find out how much of your annual maximum remains and whether you’ve met your deductible. Your dental office may also be able to tell you whether you have unused preventive benefits.
In some cases, your dental office can provide a pretreatment estimate to help you make good decisions. This estimate can show your expected out-of-pocket responsibility and what your dental plan may cover before larger procedures. Having this information can make it easier to plan treatment and expenses.
Stay On Top of Preventive Care
Even if you don’t have a dental procedure on the horizon, you should still check whether you still have a covered exam or cleaning available. Preventive visits can identify dental problems before they require more extensive treatment. Using available preventive benefits before they expire can help you get more from your current plan.
Make a Plan Before the Year Ends
Don’t wait until December to check your unused benefits and schedule dental procedures. Start thinking about how you can maximize your dental insurance today. Want to know more? Contact Weninger Dentistry for dental services in Tampa.