Now’s the Time to Use Your 2019 Dental Insurance Benefits! Quick, Before They Expire!

2019-dental-insurance-benefits-quick-before-they-expire

When the clock strikes midnight on December 31, you might be sharing a kiss with someone you love or hanging out with your friends. But did you know that you might also be losing money? That’s right, if you don’t visit your dentist in Hutchinson at least twice a year for checkups and cleanings, you could wind up losing some serious dough. Let’s talk more about how you can avoid losing money.

Use Your Yearly Maximum

The majority of dental insurance plans have something called a yearly maximum, which is the highest dollar amount that it will pay for care services in one calendar year. Generally, it can range from about $1,000 to $1,500. About 97 percent of people with dental insurance only use a tiny portion of this money.

This is a shame because when you don’t use all that money by January 1, it does NOT roll over into the next year. It goes back to the insurance company. Dental insurance providers typically don’t talk about this, because they actually WANT you to not meet your yearly maximum. Instead of losing money as you ring in the new year, here are some ways you can take advantage of your benefits.

Get a Second Checkup and Cleaning

According to the American Dental Association, every single person should get two checkups and cleanings a year to keep their smile healthy and prevent serious dental problems from developing down the road. However, most people only have one visit a year, if any. The vast majority of dental insurance plans cover most, if not the full cost of these appointments. So, if you’ve only been to the dentist once so far this year, now is the perfect time to go. You likely won’t have to pay anything out of pocket for it!

Don’t Waste Your Deductible

Your deductible is the amount of money you have to pay out of pocket before your insurance will start covering your care. Much like your yearly maximum, it resets at the end of every calendar year. If you’ve already met your deductible for 2019, now is the perfect time to get that filling, crown, or other procedure you’ve been needing to restore your smile. If you wait until 2020, you’d have to meet your deductible again to receive the dental work you could get now for significantly less money.

By making sure you meet your 2019 deductible and spend your yearly maximum, your teeth and your wallet will both thank you. If you still have some money left in your plan, visit your dentist and they can figure out how best you can spend it.

About the Author

Dr. Grant Ringler graduated from the University’s of Nebraska’s college of dentistry. He has provided dental care to the Hutchinson, KS community since 1988. At his practice, the office staff will be more than happy to file your insurance claims for you and wait for payment from your insurance company. They will also help you figure out how best to spend any leftover money you may have on your yearly maximum. For more information, contact Dr. Ringler at (620) 860-0309.