Taking advantage of your dental insurance benefits before the end of the year is advantageous for most dental patients. While most dental insurance plans run on a calendar year, a few run on a fiscal year. This article will focus on calendar year dental benefits that expire December 31st of every year. We have included a few reasons that one should consider while taking advantage of dental insurance benefits.
- Annual Maximum
The
maximum amount of money that your insurance carrier will pay for your dental
treatment within the 12 months of a calendar year is the annual maximum.
Each insurance company has their own yearly maximum ranging from $1000 to as
high as $3000 for each beneficiary of the plan. Any insurance benefits
not used within the calendar year will not rollover to the following year.
- Premiums
The
amount the policy-holder pays each month to the health plan to purchase health
coverage is called the premium. Often times, dental insurance may be
included as part of the health insurance benefit package. If you are
paying your dental insurance premiums every month, it is wise to use your
dental insurance to help pay for your treatment.
- Deductible
The
amount of money that you must pay out-of pocket before your insurance company
will pay for its share is called the deductible. The deductible fee varies from
plan to plan and could be higher if you choose an out-of-network dentist. The
average deductible for a dental insurance plan is usually around $50 per year.
Your deductible starts all over again the following year when your plan rolls
over.
- Fee Increases
Another
reason to use your benefits before the end of the year is possible fee
increases. Some dentists raise their fees at the beginning of the year
due to the increased cost of living, materials and equipment. Fee
increases also make your treatment more expensive.
- Delayed Treatment
Delaying
dental treatment causes more extensive and expensive treatment down the road. Teeth
that require simple fillings can break down and lead to bigger
restorations. Teeth may also break down and if they fracture the wrong
way possibly leading to extractions.
In
summary, whether one has dental benefits or not, a patient should see his dentist
on a regular basis for a checkup and cleaning, at minimum. If any dental
insurance benefits are available, it would be best to utilize
coverage and complete treatment as soon as possible before the fees are raised
and complications occur.
You
may call our dental office, Elite Dental Arts at (212)681-0939 to schedule an
appointment or you may conveniently schedule online before your benefits expire at the
end of the year. It could save you some money in the long run.
What
other tips would you add to taking advantage of dental benefits before the end
of the year? Please share your thoughts and comments below.
Nick M. Mobilia,
DDS
9 East 45th Street, 6th FloorNew York, NY 10017
(212) 681-0939
drmobilia@EliteDentalArts.com
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