Many dental insurance providers include stipulations in your plan that try to shift the cost of dental care back onto you. However, the end of the year provides an opportunity for you to turn the tables and get the most out of your insurance plan. If you want the best value for your dental insurance premium dollar, here’s why you should schedule a dental appointment with Dr. Michael Mulkey at Lost Mountain Dental in Marietta GA before the New Year.
Maximize Dental Insurance Benefits
- The Yearly Max
Most dental insurance plans set an annual maximum coverage cap- usually somewhere between $1,000 and $1,500 per person- with the coverage amount renewing every year on January 1st. As your cap will reset in January, it makes sense to use up to your maximum before the end of the current year if you can.
- Overlapping Years
If you know that you need several costly related dental procedures, it is possible to schedule them to begin before – and complete after – the start of the New Year. In this way, you reduce your out-of-pocket costs by dipping into the maximums of two different benefit years.
- Taxes
If your employer offers its’ employees a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) to contribute to on a pre-tax basis, it’s smart to use your entire deduction amount for the year. If not, you will be sacrificing any FSA contributions you don’t use by the end of year deadline. If you have a Health Savings Account (HSA), you can also use the remaining balance to improve your oral health without suffering any tax penalties.
- Deductibles
Most dental plans require you to pay a specific amount of money out-of-pocket before your insurance provider begins paying in full. If you’ve already met your deductible, consider scheduling an appointment with Dr. Mulkey for any procedure you may have been putting off. After all, after the New Year arrives, you’ll be faced with a brand new deductible to meet.
- Monthly Premiums
If you are paying monthly premiums to an insurance provider for dental insurance, you should be using those benefits. Many people limit their dental insurance to acting as a safety net against high costs related to unexpected emergency dental procedures. However, if you don’t currently have any serious dental issues, you should still use your dental benefits to pay for routine services such as cleanings. These recurring routine dental services can detect minor problems before they become serious when they are still easily treated.
- Fee increases
Because of the increasing cost of materials, equipment and staffing, dental offices must occasionally raise their fees. As we move into the New Year, providers always review their pricing to decide whether fee increases are warranted. If you wait until after the New Year to seek treatment, you may end up paying a higher co-pay due to these increases. Therefore, it makes sense to schedule your appointment in November or December.
- Dental Problems Will Get Worse
While it’s human nature to procrastinate, especially about scheduling things that might be uncomfortable, the vast majority of dental issues will only get worse with time. Procrastination only leads to more discomfort, more time in the dentist’s chair and higher costs when you finally do receive treatment. If you get problems treated as soon as you are aware of them, you are likely to pay less for your treatment and have less discomfort too.
To learn more about the insurance and payment options we accept at Lost Mountain Dental, call our offices at (678) 212-1280.