December 13, 2021

Millions of Americans obtain their dental benefits from their employer’s insurance company plans. Despite paying a monthly premium to keep the insurance, many people don’t use all the dental insurance benefits allotted to them before they expire.If you struggle to max out your dental benefits or visit your dentist at least twice a year, you need to know that you could potentially save hundreds of dollars if you use up your benefits before they expire. In this post, we’ll discuss what dental benefits means and how you can max them out before it’s too late.Understanding Your Dental Insurance PlanDental BenefitsA dental plan (also known as dental benefits) is an insurance policy designed to pay part of your dental care costs. Although these plans vary, they come with a twelve-month benefit period that typically runs from January 1st to December 31st.The policy will cover a percentage of your dental care up to a specific dollar amount during this period. But if you fail to use up your benefits for the year, you will lose them all when they reset the following year.Moreover, you pay your monthly premiums and deductibles to keep the insurance. So if you don’t use it before it expires, all the “dental dollars” you earned will go to waste! That’s why we encourage you to use up all the benefits allotted to you before it’s too late.Yearly MaximumDental insurance policies come with an annual maximum, which is the maximum dollar amount that your plan will pay for your dental care in a given year. The yearly maximum varies depending on your dental plan. Typically, it fluctuates between $1,000 – $2,000 and usually has an average of $1,500.All the money your insurance policy pays for your treatment comes out of your annual maximum. However, if you don’t use all the dollars in your yearly maximum, you will lose them as they will not roll over to the following year.For instance, your plan has a yearly maximum of $1,600 and received a cavity filling service in February, costing $120. Your plan covers the treatment at 80%, so your plan pays $96, and you have an annual maximum balance of $1,504. If you don’t visit your dentist and use the remaining $1,504, you will lose it when it expires on December 31st.Moreover, if you’re running a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA), the money accrued in these accounts may also expire at the end of 2021. That’s why Genesis Family Dentistry is here to help you and your family take advantage of our affordable, high-quality dental services to maximize your benefits. Remember, each plan varies, so contact us today, and we’ll help you understand your plan details or confirm your benefits ahead of time.Take Advantage of Your Dental Benefits for Routine Checkup and CleaningYou might be wondering why you need to visit the dentist if you don’t have any dental health issues. Your dental plan isn’t just for fixing teeth issues; it’s about preventing disease before it begins and maintaining great oral health.Most dental plans cover 100% of the following twice a year:Dental x-raysIntraoral checkupProfessional teeth cleaningA biannual checkup and cleaning will help spot issues early when they are easy to fix. It will also help prevent cavities and other problems and ensure your teeth look great, function well, and stay healthy! Remember, you paid for it, so make sure to come in for a professional checkup and cleaning before 2022.Save Money on Dental Insurance and Prevent EmergenciesWhat should be your next course of action if your dentist says you have a tooth problem that requires treatment? If the issue isn’t bothering you, you might be tempted to delay treatment until the tooth is hurting. While postponing care may seem logical to some people, it isn’t usually the best when it comes to your teeth.Spotting and addressing teeth issues early will save you money since treatment costs depend on the problem’s severity. The longer you wait, the bigger the problem will evolve to be. The bigger the problem becomes, the more difficult or costly it is to fix it.Earlier treatment will help prevent emergencies, costly procedures, and other health issues. Moreover, you’re more likely to have more dollars in your annual maximum to cover other dental problems for the year.However, if you’re running low on your yearly maximum or require extensive procedures, we can help! Genesis Family Dentistry can split up treatment, so 2021 dental benefits cover some procedures. We’ll also plan ahead so that the 2022 benefits cover the rest of the treatment when your plan resets.Avoid Future Price IncreasesEveryday expenses (dental supplies included) are significantly increasing since the hit of COVID-19. Clinical staff must wear personal protective equipment like gloves, surgical head caps, gowns, and special masks, whose costs have nearly tripled.Due to the increase in liability insurance premiums and skyrocketing operational costs, some doctors have to adjust their fees at the beginning of 2022. Getting those treatments you’ve been postponing done before the end of 2021 is an excellent way to be budget savvy.Get Ahead of the Crowd: Schedule Your Dental Appointment Today!Genesis Family Dentistry’s holiday season appointments fill up quickly, especially at this time of the year when everyone is trying to use up their dental benefits. Fortunately, we still have limited appointments available now till December 31st to accommodate all of your dental care needs.Schedule a visit today, and beat the crowd of the holiday season. You can also call our front desk at (980) 272-4700, and we’ll gladly answer your questions regarding treatments, insurance, or any other questions you may have.