Lots of people wait until December to use their dental insurance. They may even procrastinate to the point where their policy expires and they end up losing out on their benefits altogether. If that story sounds familiar, why not make 2019 the year you finally take full advantage of your dental plan? By making an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible, you can ensure that you’ll get your money’s worth from your 2019 insurance.
The Perfect Time for a Checkup
Experts recommend that everyone visits their dentist at least once every six months. In line with that, most dental insurance policies allow you to see your dentist twice within a 12-month period to receive a professional cleaning and checkup. However, if you wait too long to get the first checkup of the year, you won’t have time before December to squeeze in your second recommended exam.
By scheduling an appointment now, you’ll ensure that you have plenty of time for both of your biannual routine checkups in 2019. Even more importantly, your dentist will have an opportunity to examine your mouth and catch any oral health issues before they cause you pain and additional expenses.
Getting the Most Out of Your Annual Maximum
PPO dental plans come with an annual maximum, which is the highest amount that the insurance company will pay out for approved treatment within a calendar year. If you know you need a significant procedure, such as a crown or root canal, now is the perfect time to start planning — while the entirety of your annual maximum is still available for you to use.
If your treatment will meet or exceed your maximum, you can explore other financial options. For example, you can ask your dentist about arranging a payment plan. If you have a healthcare savings account, you may be able to utilize that to fit your treatment into your budget.
More Tips for Maximizing Your 2019 Insurance
Here are a few more ideas to help you plan to get the most out of your 2019 dental benefits:
- Get to know your policy. Familiarizing yourself with what treatments are covered, your waiting period, and your deductible will help you make wise financial decisions when you’re planning your dental care.
- Ask for help. The staff at Brookside Dental Care is used to working with insurance; they will provide you with advice that benefits both your smile and your wallet.
- Explore your policy options. If you’d like more robust dental coverage, you can start shopping around; most dental insurance companies don’t limit your opportunity to purchase a policy to an open enrollment period. If you’ve already had a dental plan for a while, your new insurance provider might even waive your waiting period for certain services.
This year will fly by. Start planning now to utilize 2019’s dental benefits so you can get as much as possible out of them.
About the Author
Dr. Bryan Griffith is an experienced general dentist who offers a wide range of services. He accepts payment from almost all dental insurance companies. To learn more about Dr. Griffith or our office’s financial policies, contact us at 606-874-9311.