As the year winds down and holiday to-dos start piling up, it’s easy to let certain tasks slip—like using your dental insurance benefits. The end of the year is a prime time to get the most out of your dental insurance in Columbus, Ohio. Not sure where to begin? We’ve put together some key ways to maximize your coverage and take full advantage before year-end.
Use Your Yearly Allowance
For many insurance plans, after you meet your deductible, you’re left with an annual cap (or yearly allowance). This is the maximum amount your insurance company will pay for covered expenses within a year, and it resets in the new year. Research shows less than 3% of people on PPO dental plans meet their yearly maximum. While there is no penalty for not meeting your maximum, you’re leaving money money on the table. While there’s no penalty for not hitting this cap, not using your full benefits means leaving money on the table. Schedule any necessary procedures, like cleanings and fillings, before the year’s end so you don’t miss out on these benefits.
Schedule Preventive Care
While all dental insurance plans are different, one thing that is common across most of them is preventative care coverage. Usually, the cost of routine cleanings and exams is covered 100% by insurance, though there may be a limit on the number of each service provided within the year. Preventative care is necessary for keeping your oral health in check and catching concerns early on. If your plan allows for additional preventive visits before year’s end, book today so you can reap all the end-of-year dental benefits you can.
Take Advantage of Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) are employer-sponsored benefits that provide a set amount to use on medical expenses throughout the year. While FSAs don’t cover everything, they do apply to a wide range of medical expenses, from hearing aids to many dental services. Typically, you can’t use your FSA funds to cover cosmetic dental procedures or routine dental supplies, but you can use them on a variety of general dental services, including preventative care and restorative procedures.
FSAs are great, but they do have a catch. More often than not, any funds left in your FSA at the end of the year do not roll over to the next year. If you haven’t been to the dentist in a while or know you need a dental procedure that qualifies for FSA dental spending, now is the time to reach out to schedule these procedures before your funds disappear.
Plan for Major Treatments
Cost is often a big consideration when scheduling dental treatments, with research reporting cost as a primary reason for postponing appointments. Treatments that involve multiple visits to the dentist, such as root canals and dental crowns, can be scheduled strategically to help split the cost between this year and next year to maximize insurance benefits.
Don’t wait until it’s too late to make the most of your dental insurance benefits. Our team is here to help you plan your treatments and maximize your benefits. Contact South High Dental today to schedule an appointment and make the most of your insurance benefits before the year ends.
