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As we inch closer to the new year, we look forward to Thanksgiving, Christmas, and of course, New Year’s Eve. We are often so busy ringing in the new year that we forget that our dental insurance plans lose all benefits post-December 31st. This means that if the yearly maximum has not been reached already, the cover will go waste. As per a statement by the National Association of Dental Plans, only 2.8% of people who hold PPO dental health plans actually touch or exceed their annual coverage amounts.
Read further to understand why and how you can make the most of your dental insurance plan before the year-end.
Why You Should Use Your Dental Benefits Before It’s Too Late
Here are five reasons why you should schedule an appointment with your dentist before the year ends:
All dental insurance plans come with a yearly maximum amount, which could fall between $1,000 to $1,500 per plan based on the insurer and covered services. A vast majority of dental insurance plans get renewed on January 1st, and any unused benefits do not carry over to the following year. So it would only make sense to make full use of the maximum coverage amount.
You would be paying or would have already paid a premium amount towards the insurance plan to claim coverage for dental benefits. The same applies to FSAs as well, where you contribute towards your dental plan directly from your pay, pre-tax. Not taking up dental services would mean all such contributions would go to waste.
Increase in Fee for Dental Sevices
As is the case with a majority of services, an increase in fees is common. Dentists, too, incur expenses in the form of equipment and medical supplies. With the increase in the cost of such material, they would have no choice but to increase the services fee. In most cases, the new fee structures would be applicable from the new year. So, delaying your dental appointment could end up in you paying up a higher co-pay amount.
Certain dental procedures could easily exceed your yearly maximum amount resulting in a higher out-of-pocket expense for you. To avoid this, you can speak to your dentist and plan your treatment in such a way that your expenses are split between this year and the next - allowing you to get maximum dental insurance coverage.
Dental Issues Get Worse
Besides all the reasons mentioned above, what is most important is one’s dental health. The more you postpone your oral health checkups and dental procedures, the worse the condition could get. Neglecting any type of oral health condition will only worsen the infection, making it spread to other parts. So, your dental health is another major reason why you should visit the dentist before the end of the year.
Dental insurance is definitely a blessing given its wide coverage for a minimal contribution. Do not let it go waste and make use of it at the earliest, i.e., before December 31st.
If you are looking for a dentist for a dental checkup, give us a call at (541) 757-1829 today so that we may schedule an appointment immediately.