Annual Admissions: Why You Should Use Your Dental Benefits Now

Now that October has arrived, folks are looking forward to a busy holiday season full of end-of-year celebrations. It’s important not to forget about your oral health when you’re making schedules for get-togethers with family or friends or putting together your travel itineraries.

Whether it’s been a while since your last standard checkup or you’ve been procrastinating some other procedure, the end of the year is often an ideal time to get dental work done. This is especially true if you carry a dental insurance policy. Continue reading to learn 3 convincing reasons why!

Consideration #1: Expiring Benefits

Although it can vary, most dental insurance plans typically start over fresh on the first day of the new year. On January 1, you can expect your policy to begin counting your annual maximum and deductibles for the new cycle. If your provider offers a set dollar amount that they contribute to your services each year that you haven’t yet met, it’s a good idea to get the treatments you need before your cycle restarts.

After all, any unused funds won’t carry over, and there’s no guarantee that you’ll get the same maximum amount next year if the rules change. Plus, since you’re nearing the end of the current cycle, you’re more likely to have already met your annual deductible, which must be paid for benefits to kick in. Therefore, it’s better to use what’s available to you now before it’s gone!

Consideration #2: Practicing Prevention

Issues like tooth decay, gum disease, and oral injuries usually don’t resolve themselves. In fact, they tend only to get worse the longer they go unaddressed. That’s why your dentist recommends visiting them every six months for a routine checkup and cleaning. It allows them to monitor your condition and spot any early signs of cavities or gingivitis before they can progress into more serious problems.

Remember, many dental insurance plans cover 80% to 100% of preventative care services, but only 50% of major procedures like root canals or dental crowns. By scheduling your next examination before your policy restarts in 2025, you can potentially save your wallet and your smile!

Consideration #3: Avoiding Unnecessary Payments

Most dental policies include a deductible that must be met when the new coverage cycle begins before coverage starts. Then, there’s usually also a co-pay included for each visit to your dentist. Even if you’ve met the deductible for the year, you’ll still need to pay for each appointment you attend.

It may be advantageous to schedule any procedures you need before the year ends so you pay only your current co-pay. If you delay, you risk paying a higher dollar amount if your insurance policy changes unexpectedly in addition to your new year’s deductible.

As you can see, there are several great reasons to schedule your next dental appointment this fall before the new year begins!

About the Author

Dr. Jonathan Aguilar enjoys helping patients learn how to build and maintain healthy, happy smiles. He earned his dental doctorate at Texas A&M Health Science Center at Baylor College of Dentistry and has worked in corporate, non-profit, and private sectors. Now, he offers a wide array of services to meet all your family’s oral healthcare needs conveniently under one roof. He combines an honest and respectful approach with state-of-the-art equipment to implement individualized treatments for accurate, long-lasting results. You can request an appointment on the website or by calling (940) 566-5332.