Most people avoid trying to contact their dental insurance providers because they’re not in the mood to be placed on hold to smooth jazz for 15-minute increments. The thought of having to navigate the fine print of insurance benefits makes people feel stressed, worried, and anxious, and that’s a completely valid reaction. Luckily, with the right cosmetic dentist by your side, they can help you learn more about your coverage so you can maximize your benefits before they expire on January 1st. Read on for four tips to help you get the most out of your monthly investment in dental insurance.
Meet or Exceed Your Yearly Maximum
Each year, your dental insurance provider sets a maximum, or a capped amount of money that they will pay out for your dental procedures. The average maximum is between $1,000 and $1,500, which means that any amount left unused will fall back into the heavy pockets of your insurance company instead of being spent on optimizing your oral health. The best way to maximize your benefits is to either meet or exceed your annual capped amount. That way, you know that you’ve done everything you absolutely could to maintain a beautiful and healthy smile over the year.
Don’t Leave Small Problems Untreated
Sometimes, it’s easy to be overly optimistic about how problems will work themselves out, especially when it comes to oral symptoms like toothaches and sensitivity. Although you’d like to give them the benefit of the doubt and think of them as a small, temporary inconvenience, that may not be the case. These are also symptoms of serious problems like severe cavities and tooth infections. When they’re not immediately treated and addressed, it often takes more costly and invasive treatments to solve them.
Your dental insurance providers typically cover the cost of these treatments based on a 100-80-50 structure, which means that they cover 100 percent of preventive care, 80 percent of basic treatments like cavity fillings, and 50 percent of major procedures such as root canal therapy.
Take Advantage of Preventive Dental Care
Dental insurance companies try their best to reward patients who are proactive about taking care of their mouth and avoiding common oral health problems. That’s why they cover the cost of two checkups and cleanings every year. If you haven’t used both of these visits yet, the first step to maximizing your benefits is to schedule them. After all, they’re completely covered, so what have you got to lose?
Avoid Wasting Your Annual Deductible
Similar to your annual maximum, you have a deductible which restarts on January 1st every year. This is a set amount of fees that you have to pay out of your own pocket before your benefits will kick in and start covering the cost of your dental treatments. When you wait until your plan renews to get the care you need, you’re risking a higher deductible and more money out of your own pocket.
If you have any questions about how your dental insurance works and what procedures are and aren’t covered by your benefits, don’t hesitate to speak with your dentist. They can walk you through how to navigate your policy and help you learn everything you need to know in order to maximize your benefits before they restart on January 1st.
About the Author
Dr. Kevin Labosky believes in providing his patients with the highest quality of dental care possible. He also regularly takes continuing education courses so he can sharpen his skills in a variety of dental focuses, including preventive, cosmetic, and restorative treatments. As a member of several professional organizations, he also focuses on staying up-to-date with the latest advancements in his field. For questions about your dental insurance or to learn how you can get the most out of it, visit his website or call 814-237-7004.
