Every year, millions of Americans lose billions of dollars in dental insurance benefits, often without even realizing it. This is because the majority of dental insurance plans operate a system of “use it or lose it,” meaning if you don’t utilize your benefits by the end of the year, they’re gone forever. Do you want to save money and keep your mouth healthy? Then continue reading to learn how to maximize your benefits with a dentist in Frisco.
Know Your Annual Maximum
Your annual maximum is the highest dollar amount that your insurance company will pay for your care during the calendar year. Most annual maximums run from around $1,000 to $1,250. The goal is to meet or even exceed that amount in order to make the most of your benefits.
Pay Your Deductible
Your deductible is the amount you must pay out-of-pocket before your insurance company starts covering your care. Once you pay your deductible, it’s good for the rest of the year. Just like your yearly maximum, your deductible resets once the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve. So, if you’ve already paid your fee for the year, you should seek the treatment you need.
Overlap Treatment
This is can actually save you out-of-pocket costs and maximize your benefits. If you have a treatment that will take multiple appointments, go ahead and start it now and get the rest done in 2020.
Get Your Money’s Worth
If you pay your dental insurance premiums, then you should absolutely be cashing in on your insurance benefits. Even if you don’t need to get any dental work done, you should still be seeing your dentist near McKinney twice a year for checkups and cleanings. At these visits, your dentist can check for early signs of issues like gum disease, cavities, and oral cancer. These preventive appointments are usually fully covered by your insurance, which means you have no reason not to attend them and maximize your benefits.
Get Any Needed Dental Work Done
Sometimes it’s all too easy to put off much-needed dental work. Doing so, however, can actually leave you worse off than before. It puts you at a higher risk of developing even worse dental issues. Unlike general medical conditions, which often get better with time, dental problems worsen when you leave them alone. That’s why you should always see your dentist as soon as possible when they say you need additional work done.
Now that you know how to make the most of your dental insurance benefits, have you scheduled an appointment with your dentist in Frisco yet? They have plenty of room in their schedule to see you before the end of 2019!
About the Author
Dr. Deval Parmar studied dentistry in India and ran her own practice there before moving to the United States and practicing at Archway Dental in Frisco, TX. She is a current member of both the American Dental Association and the Texas Dental Association. Her practice is in-network with most major PPO plans. To schedule your end-of-the-year checkup and cleaning, or get any needed dental work squared away, contact Dr. Parmar’s office at (972) 972-4646.