Happy New Year! If you’re like most people, you don’t usually think about your dental insurance at the New Year. But there’s a good reason to! The American Dental Association found that the average person gets an annual benefit of $1,250, but only gets about $323 of dental work each year. Unfortunately, that money is lost if it’s not used, so millions of people wind up missing out on over $900 of “free money.” Why not make a New Year’s resolution to use that money to help you get a healthy, beautiful smile? Keep reading to learn more about how to maximize your insurance benefits in 2019 at a dentist in Hiram. Your smile (and your wallet) will thank you!
How Can You Maximize Your Insurance Benefits?
Here are several ways to get the most from your benefits:
- Think about your goals – First, consult with a dentist about your oral health goals. That could simply be getting a cleaning or something more extensive like a dental implant. Once a dentist understands your goals, they can recommend a treatment plan that helps you take advantage of your benefits.
- Schedule soon – Again, since your benefits are lost if you don’t use them by the end of the year, it’s a good idea to schedule as soon as possible. If you do need any major dental work, you’ll have time to plan for it and use these financial benefits wisely.
- Use a flexible or health savings account – Using tax-free money in either an FSA or an HSA is a great way to make dental work even more affordable because you can use it to cover any fees that aren’t covered by insurance.
- Understand your benefits – Spend some time looking at your plan to understand your coverage. Find out how much of various procedures are covered, what your deductible and annual maximum is, and whether you have a co-pay or not.
- Ask for a preauthorization – For a specific idea of what a procedure will cost, ask your dentist to file a preauthorization beforehand. This is a document from your insurance company that explains what they’ll pay so you won’t have any surprises.
Also, dental insurance benefits can be hard to understand, but you can always ask your dental office for help!
How Much Will Your Plan Cover?
Every plan is different, but, in general, insurance plans cover preventive care like checkups, cleanings and X-rays at 80%-100%. Then, more extensive procedures such as gum therapy, fillings, root canals, and crowns are usually covered between 50%-70%.
Dental insurance is a wonderful way to make dental care affordable and accessible. And, with these tips and tricks, you can use it to achieve your best smile yet in 2019!
About the Author
Dr. Clay Cannon is a family dentist in Hiram who knows that insurance benefits can be overwhelming. He wants to help every patient get the dental care they need, so he and his staff do everything they can to help people use their plans to their advantage. If you have any other questions about dental insurance, you can contact him via his website.
