If you have dental insurance, you pay for your policy month after month. It is reasonable to want to do all you can to get the greatest value out of it! It has the potential to help you enjoy low-cost preventive care, and it can reduce the financial stress of those times when your smile needs a bit of restorative work. But just how can you maximize your dental insurance benefits? This blog post shares five helpful tips.
Schedule a Checkup
It is standard for dental insurance plans to cover two checkups and cleanings each year. Since preventive services are often 100% covered, you might not have to pay a dime out of pocket for these visits! If you have not yet had your second preventive appointment of 2024, now is the time to get it on the books! Schedule it as soon as possible so you do not run out of time to use your annual benefits.
Follow Up with Recommended Treatment
During your checkup, your dentist might identify some small cavities or signs of gum disease. If that happens, try to schedule recommended treatments as soon as you can. Insurance often covers 80% of the cost of minor restorative care but just 50% of major services. Addressing problems in their early stages can prevent them from worsening and help you save some major bucks!
Remember that Benefits Reset
It is common for dental insurance plans to work on a calendar-year basis. Therefore, if you have already paid your deductible for 2024, you can now use your benefits while paying as little as possible out of pocket. If you wait until next year to receive care, you will have to start over with paying your deductible. Plus, acting now can allow you to utilize your 2024 benefits before they disappear forever.
Consider Your Annual Maximum
PPO dental insurance plans tend to come with an annual maximum, which is a strict dollar limit on the amount that the insurance company will pay for approved services within a calendar year. If you need major treatment, you might be able to schedule it partially in this year and partially in next, which could allow you to use two annual maximums instead of just one.
Consider Visiting an In-Network Dentist
With PPO dental insurance plans, you are free to visit virtually any dentist. However, you might find that out-of-pocket fees are the lowest at in-network practices, which have a contract with your insurance that controls prices.
Would you like to maximize your dental insurance? Use the tips in this blog post to get more value out of your benefits.
Meet the Practice
At Omega Dental in Bedford, our team understands that many patients are working with a tight budget. That is why we welcome dental insurance. We are even in-network with many popular plans, including those from Aetna, AlwaysCare, Cigna, and more. If you would like our assistance to get more out of your benefits, we are ready to offer advice and support. Contact our office at 817-518-6915.