Unbelievably, 2023 is quickly approaching. You’re concentrating on finding the ideal presents and cooking tasty dinners as the holiday season approaches. Your dental insurance is the last thing on your mind; since it is soon to expire, you need consider it seriously.
The Major Types of Dental Insurance Plans
Type 1: refers to preventive dental care, including X-rays, intraoral exams, and professional teeth cleanings. These services are typically 100% covered by dental insurance.
Type 2: services cover fundamental restorative procedures. Root canals and fillings are examples of basic procedures that fall under type 2. Depending on your dental plans, these services could come with a small amount of out-of-pocket expenses.
Type 3: refers to severe surgical procedures on the gums or teeth. Crowns, dentures, and dental implants are among the examples. Some dental insurance policies might not pay for necessary services or would pay far less than for essential services.
Type 4: Anything not included in the first three classes is covered by type 4. For example, this group falls under the risks associated with people without dental care for at least 13 months.
What Are Dental Services Covered by Your Plan?
The easiest approach to find out which specific dental procedures your plan will cover is to get in touch with them and ask. Otherwise, a 100-80-50 structure is employed by most insurance companies. That means they cover 100% of the cost of preventive dental care, including your two annual examinations and cleanings, 80% of all simple procedures like fillings, and 50% of significant procedures like root canals and tooth extractions.
What Time Does Your Insurance Plan Expire?
Depending on the type of dental plan or dental benefit you have, it may follow a fiscal year or a conventional calendar year, which usually runs from January 1 to December 31. Benefits from private dental insurance typically run out at the end of the year, so yours will probably renew on January 1. When this occurs, any benefits you haven’t used will expire, and you’ll need to pay back your expenses, such as your deductible before your provider starts covering the cost of your treatments.
Why should you use Your Dental Insurance Benefits Before They Expire?
Use the benefits you have already paid for! Here are the top four reasons for scheduling a dentist visit before the year ends.
1. Advantage of Prevention
Preventive care is essential in dentistry because, according to research, it reduces overall dental costs. For example, you can save up to $50 on restorative services for every $1 spent on prevention. Additionally, going to the dentist at least twice a year for a cleaning and checkup would be beneficial, according to the American Dental Association.
Obtaining the necessary routine care is simple, thanks to your dental insurance. You can access 100% preventive coverage for twice-yearly visits to the dentist by paying your monthly premiums.
Have you already had your cleaning appointments at the dentist twice this year? If not, call now to reserve a spot before the year is over. It’s crucial to make cleaning appointments for you and your family members right away.
2. The Deductible Resets Every Year
On January 1, the amount you have previously paid toward your deductible will be reset to zero. Call your insurance company to find out how much you’ve paid toward your deductible this year and inquire about the coverage of any procedures you’re considering.
3. Yearly Maximum
The maximum is the term insurance companies use to describe the upper limit on the total number of services they will cover each year. The typical amount is between $1000 and $2000, meaning any unused portion will be returned to your insurance company’s pocket on January 1.
For instance, your plan’s yearly cap is $1,600, and you spent $120 on a cavity filling in February. You have an annual maximum of $1,504, and your insurance pays $96 for the treatment at 80% coverage. You will lose the remaining $1,504 on December 31 if you don’t use it to see your dentist.
Get all the dental care you require before the annual cap resets to maximize your benefits. Also, make sure to meet the yearly cap.
4. Prevent Future Cost Increases
Simple treatments put off or avoided today can cost more in the future. In addition, some doctors will have to change their prices at the beginning of 2023 due to rising liability insurance premiums and operational expenses. So, use your dental insurance now before 2022 comes to an end to avoid severe and expensive treatments.
How to Use Dental Insurance Before It Expires?
Follow these steps for assistance in maximizing the use of your dental insurance benefits:
• Call your dentist immediately to make appointments for you and your family members before the end of the year if you haven’t yet had your two annual dental exams and cleanings.
• Call your insurance company to find out 1) what benefits you’ve already used, 2) what is covered, and 3) whether any benefits will be reduced in the upcoming year.
• Talk to your dentist’s treatment coordinator about the best approach to complete the procedure and optimize your benefits for the year if you’re considering getting any dental procedure that might be partially or entirely covered by insurance.
Conclusion
Millions of Americans need to use their dental insurance benefits effectively before expiring away. Dental insurance makes maintaining healthy gums and teeth through examinations and other preventive steps affordable. It can also help offset the expense of more serious and fundamental treatments that might otherwise result in long-term or persistent problems.
Time is running out. Before long, 2023 will be here. Therefore, keep in mind that you have already paid for your dental insurance benefits; use them to avoid losing them!
Please make an appointment to learn more about your insurance benefits at Baker Ranch Dental Spa and Implant Center in Lake Forest, California. In addition, Dr.Ramin offers free consultations on dental Implants.