Many insurance providers include “fine print” in your plan that attempts to shift most of the costs of your dental care back onto you. However, with the end of the year approaching, an opportunity arises for you to get the more value out of your insurance plan. If you would like to get the most out of your dental benefits, here’s why you should schedule a dental appointment with Dr. Amy Marckese at DentalSpa in Indianapolis, IN or at your local area dentist before the New Year.
1. The Yearly Max
Most dental insurance plans include an annual maximum coverage cap, usually somewhere between $1,000 and $1,500 per person, with the coverage amount renewing on the first of the New Year. Since this amount resets in January, it makes good sense to use up your yearly maximum before it restarts if possible.
2. Overlapping Years
If you have a series of costly related dental procedures lined up ahead of you, it is possible to schedule them to start before – and complete after – the start of the New Year. This is a clever way to reduce your own out-of-pocket costs by dipping into the maximums of two benefit years- using up the current year’s maximum coverage before starting on the next year’s.
3. Taxes
If your employer offers a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for you to contribute to on a pre-tax basis, you’ll want to use your entire deduction amount for the year. If not, you will be forfeiting any unused FSA contributions at the end of year deadline. If you have a Health Savings Account (HSA), you can also use the balance for the betterment of your oral health without suffering any tax penalties.
4. Deductibles
Most dental plans require you to pay a specific amount of money out-of-pocket towards your dental care before your benefits will begin paying. This amount is called a deductible. Once you’ve met your assigned deductible for the year, consider scheduling an appointment with Dr. Marckese for any procedures you may have been putting off. After all, once the New Year rolls around, you’ll be stuck with meeting a brand new deductible.
5. Monthly Premiums
If you are paying monthly insurance premiums for dental insurance, then you should really be using those benefits. Many people seem to view their dental insurance as a safety net against high costs related to unexpected emergency dental procedures. But, even if you don’t currently have any serious dental concerns, you should still use your benefits by scheduling routine services such as cleanings and exams to find and resolve minor issues before they become serious.
6. Fee Increases
Because of the increasing cost of materials or equipment, dental offices must sometimes raise their fees from time to time. As the New Year begins, providers usually review their pricing to determine whether fee increases are warranted. If you wait until after the New Year, you may end up paying more for whatever service you need. So it is a good idea to schedule your appointment in December, before any potential fee increases.
7. Dental Problems Will Get Worse
While it’s normal to stall when faced with doing things we don’t want to do, the vast majority of dental issues will only grow worse with time if allowed to go untreated. Procrastination only leads to more discomfort and higher costs when you finally do seek treatment. If you go now, before the end of the year, you will likely pay less for your treatment. On the other hand, if you wait, you may have to pay more and your dental insurance provider may not be willing to contribute as much.
To learn more about the insurance and payment options we accept at DentalSpa, schedule your appointment online or call our office at 866.486.0230 to start restoring your smile.