Use Dental Benefits Before You Lose Them
As an adult, the new year brings a lot of considerations we just didn’t have as kids. One of those considerations is insurance benefits and premiums. Whether your insurance is provided through your employer or an exchange provided by the Affordable Care Act, these plans run on a yearly cycle. Most plans follow the calendar year and go from January 1st to December 31st in the United States.
This means that the important parts of your plans such as deductibles, maximums and premiums reset at the beginning of each cycle. Practically, what this means is that according to the National Association of Dental Plans, about 95% of Americans are leaving money on the table. They do so by not using the full extent of their plans before the reset happens each January. They are not going to the dentist and using the benefit even though you don’t get that money back.
The Winter Crunch
We know that the last three months of the year are busy for everyone. What with the holidays, work, trips and everything else that comes up, most people aren’t thinking about the dentist during winter holidays. Unfortunately, this is the main reason why most Americans are not using the money they pay into these insurance plans. Your insurance just pockets the money and you cannot get it back or use it after December 31st.
This is why it’s important to schedule appointments now and get you and the rest of your family into the dentist to use your plans for procedures you may have been putting off like routine dental checkups, dental fillings or more serious dental procedures.
Make the Most of Your Plan
Like many things in life, going to the dentist and taking care of your teeth is better done today rather than tomorrow. Not only do most plans pay for 100% of preventative costs, but also the prices of dental procedures increase drastically the longer you wait, and the more work is required to fix them. Waiting to deal with that $50 checkup can turn into a filling that is $150 or a root canal that costs several hundred dollars.
In addition, you may hit your yearly maximum with your insurance if you wait until the problem becomes more expensive requiring you to spend more money out of pocket. If you see your dentist early, you both can plan your dental procedures and make sure to cover everything in the most cost-efficient manner.
Finally, the biggest problem with waiting too long is one of space. A dentist’s office can only have so many appointments a week. With so many people trying to use their plans, you may not be able to get in quickly if an emergency or serious problem does arise. That is why it is important to plan ahead and make appointments now.
Plans Change
This is true both for your personal plans and the insurance plans that your employer or the government provides. Premiums change almost every year and your dental costs may go up in the next year resulting in you both losing money now and having to pay more later.
If you or your family members need a dental checkup, or you’ve been putting off a procedure for a while, don’t delay. Contact us at Wooten Dentistry now and make an appointment before the end of the new year. Our staff is here to help you take care of your oral health and reduce some holiday stress.