Dental Insurance- Use It Or Lose It

Halloween is the unofficial beginning of the holiday season- and the end of the year!  At Forest Lane Dental, it is also a reminder that dental benefit years are about to expire.  Most dental plans allow their members specified funds from which their dental claims are paid.  If the funds are not used by the end of the year, they disappear- poof!  The same is true for health savings accounts and medical flex accounts.  When it comes to dental insurance, and incomplete dental treatment, the name of the game from November until the end of December is "Use It Or Lose It".

Taking advantage of Dental Insurance Benefits

Cost is a big issue for dental patients, when faced with the need for restorative or cosmetic dentistry.  Good planning can help make dental treatments such as crowns and bridges more economical.  Here are a few tips:

Plan Your Dental Treatment in Stages. 

 If you need extensive dental work, plan it in two stages.  Since your dental benefits renew on January first, it makes sense to start on part of a dental treatment plan this year, utilizing the benefits available for 2013, and then begin the second phase of treatment after the first of the year.  This way, you can maximize your dental coverage and reduce the chance that you will deplete your dental benefits before your treatment is complete. 

Stay In Your Dental Network

 Your dental plan has member dentists, like Dr. Jack Burroughs, who are preferred providers under your dental insurance plan.  One major benefit that you might not be aware of, is that in addition to your annual maximum for dental funds, you also receive reduced fees by going to a dental network provider.  That means, even if you deplete your dental funds, you still get a discount on services.

Plan For Necessary Dental Work

 Now is a good time to see Dr. Burroughs.  If you need cosmetic or restorative dental work, insurance will not cover the cost 100%.  Planning in advance for the portion of the fee that will be your responsibility can help make the cost easy to bear.  If you know in advance what the cost of dental work will be, you can plan to make contributions to your HSA or other medical spending account in order to cover the cost.  Since most of these plans are funded with pre-taxed dollars, it's like getting an additional discount.

Get a Dental Check Up

The best way to save money on dental care is to keep your mouth so healthy that you don't need it!  In addition to good dental hygiene at home, see Dr. Burroughs at least every six months for a dental check-up and a good professional dental cleaning.  This basic maintenance can help prevent serious dental problems like tooth decay and gum disease as well as detect problems early while they are small and easier to treat.

To schedule an appointment for your dental-check up, contact us.