As the end of the year approaches, you probably have a lot of things on your mind, and using up your dental insurance benefits is likely not one of them. With holiday shopping and parties to think about, why would you be worried about your dental insurance? Your dentist in Keller explains why it’s important and why it should be on your radar right now.
Dental Insurance Basics
Most dental plans use a calendar year system, which means that they start in January and end in December. This means that your dental insurance is about to run out for 2017. It’s likely that you have a yearly maximum amount of dollars each year, and if you don’t use them, they won’t roll into 2018. If you have treatment that needs to be done, or you haven’t had both of your cleaning and checkups for 2017, you’ll be losing benefit dollars!
Some plans have a yearly deductible to be met before treatment is paid for. If you have already paid 2017’s deductible that’s money you will save by having your treatment done this year instead of waiting until 2018 when it will renew again.
Most plans will also cover most if not all of your cleaning and checkups, so if you haven’t been twice this year you should schedule your appointment before the end of December.
The Importance of Preventive Care
Your six month cleaning and checkups are your best defense against issues such as tooth decay, gum disease, and oral cancer. By screening for these concerns twice each year, your dentist can detect them in their earliest stages, which allows you the opportunity to treat them with more effective and less costly procedures.
If you have dental insurance that covers most of the cost of your preventive appointments, with little out-of-pocket expense for you, it is in your best interest to visit your dentist twice per year.
Do You Have Questions About Your Dental Insurance?
Every dental plan is unique, and sometimes it can be hard for patients to understand the intricacies of their own benefits. Your dentist’s treatment coordinator is a great resource for helping you navigate and maximize your benefit dollars. Be sure to touch base with them now so you can determine if there’s any treatment or appointments you should schedule before the end of December.
About the Author
Dr. Sheri McIntosh has been taking great care of patients with high quality dentistry for over a decade. She provides a level of service at her practice that is second to none, and patients love the personalized attention they receive when the come to Distinguished Dental.
If you would like to contact Dr. McIntosh, she can be reached through her website or by calling 817-337-8300.