The end of the year can be a very busy time for all of us. Between holiday shopping, increased hours at work, and family time, it can be easy to lose track of your dental checkup and cleaning. But skipping out on seeing your dentist can have bigger repercussions. You could be losing out on your dental benefits and throwing that money away. You could also miss out on much needed treatment. Don’t let your benefits go to waste. Check out these tips on how to maximize your remaining insurance benefits.
- Find Out What Your Remaining Benefits Are
Before you schedule your appointment, it’s best to find out what’s available for you to use. This can be done by calling the customer service number on the back of your dental insurance card or by logging into your patient portal. Be sure to review your remaining annual maximum with expiration date, deductible, and even the frequency of things like your cleaning and checkup. We recommend working directly with the front office team at your dental office to help you best understand your benefits.
- Get a Treatment Plan from Your Dentist
Once you’ve reviewed your dental benefits, you can follow up with your dentist to get your treatment plan. If you attend your regular visits, chances are that you already have a long-term plan for care. It could be as simple as a cleaning and a couple of fillings or more advanced care such as crowns and bridges. Regardless of what you need, it’s best to get the full plan for a comprehensive look and what you can do.
- Prioritize What Needs to Be Done
With a treatment plan in place, you can work with your dentist to prioritize the treatment that’s needed most or address the issues that are bothering you. Focusing on treatment like crowns will allow you to utilize large chunks of your remaining annual maximum and also avoid further issues that can develop if left untreated. We all love those trays of holiday cookies but there’s nothing worse than breaking a tooth and scrambling for an emergency dental visit.
- Schedule Out Your Treatment in Advanced
With everyone trying to squeeze in before the end of year, we highly recommend scheduling out your appointments in advanced. This allows you to reserve the time and day that works best for your schedule. In addition, it also lets you plan out what benefits you’ll be using and when. Failing to schedule in advanced can cause you to miss out on your benefits and pay more for treatment in the future.
- Take Advantage of Payment Options
We understand that getting the treatment you need can be unexpected or scary. For many, it’s easy to feel like you can’t afford to take care of important procedures. But utilizing your annual maximum benefits saves you money both now and in the long run. Paired with common payment options like Care Credit, financing, and in-house payment plans, treatment is more affordable than ever. Work with your dental team to see what’s available to you.
We hope that these tips help provide clarity and ease when using your remaining insurance benefits. Remember, work with your dental team to maximize your dental insurance. This will help you not only save time and money, but end the year with a healthy smile.
