QODC

Did You Know Your Dental Insurance Benefits Do Not Roll Over?

We answer the age-old question: if you don’t use your dental insurance, do you lose it? In short, yes! If you don't use all of your dental insurance benefits this year, you lose them forever! That's right - no dental plan we know of allows you to carry unused benefits over to the following year, so don't let those remaining benefits go to waste!

It’s November and we wanted to send a gentle reminder to all our patients who have unscheduled treatments. We recommend scheduling soon. Every year around the last few weeks, we get many calls from patients who are trying to come in and get their treatment scheduled due to the loss of benefits at year end. It’s a very busy time for us and this can be a frustrating experience as a patient because Thanksgiving and Christmas eat up work days and our schedules fill up quickly. Many patients end up not using their benefits because they reach out to us too late in the year. Don’t let that happen to you...call and schedule as early as possible this year. If you need dental work done, be sure to maximize your insurance benefits. This way, you will not have to pay more out of your pocket than you need to. Here are some reasons you should use your dental benefits before the end of the year:

1.     Yearly Maximums

Your dental plan gives you a maximum of what can be spent on your dental care on an annual basis. This amount varies between insurance companies and averages around $1500 per person per year. These maximums are typically reset at the end of the year, and if you have unused benefits, they will be forfeited.

2.       Deductibles

The deductible is the amount of money that you pay out of pocket before your benefits begin to take effect. The fee varies between insurance companies and could be higher if you prefer to see a dentist that is out of your network. When your plan rolls over, you are required to pay your deductible again to start taking advantage of your benefits.

3.     Fee Increases

Another reason to use your benefits now is because it is always possible that fees will be raised to accommodate for the cost of living or increased material costs. An increase in fees can also raise your co-pay for the treatment.

4.     Dental problems do not get better over time

By delaying treatment, you may be opening the door for more extensive treatment to be needed in the future. What may be a simple cavity now can turn into a root canal, crown or extraction/implant down the road and cost you thousands. Treat your teeth with care now, and they will thank you for it in the long run.

If you have been postponing dental treatment, contact our office today to get in ahead of the rush for appointments at year-end. We also have various financing options available to help with any portion that is not covered by your dental insurance. Be sure to set appointments ASAP and also to make sure you enjoy the full benefits of your dental insurance!