Dental insurance is a helpful tool that makes it easier to pay for the dental services you and your family need to enjoy happy, healthy smiles for life. However, many patients don’t realize that insurance plans are set on a calendar year — meaning any money you have leftover at the end of 2017 will not rollover to the next. You could potentially be saying goodbye to hundreds of dollars worth of care when the clock strikes 12 on New Year’s Eve.
Fortunately, your dentist is here to help. When you get in touch with VL Dental, we can perform a verification of benefits to find out if you have any money left to use in 2017. If you do, we will examine your treatment plan and consider how we can help you best take advantage of these leftover funds. That’s help your smile and your wallet will appreciate.
Maximizing Your Benefits
Depending on your specific smile needs, we may recommend any of the following to help you make the most out of your dental insurance benefits before the year is up.- Scheduling a checkup and cleaning with X-rays if you have not had them yet for the year. Most plans, like Delta Dental insurance, completely cover the cost of two checkups and cleanings per year. These preventive visits are crucial to enjoying a healthy, long-lasting smile.
- Completing any unfinished treatment plans before the year is up.
- Beginning necessary dental work, like a dental crown, filling replacement, or anything else you may have been delaying due to finances. If multiple appointments are necessary, getting started as soon as possible will help to ensure we can complete the treatment before the year ends.
- Replacing an old night guard for bruxism or other dental appliance, if it is covered.
- Getting a head start by taking care of a checkup and cleaning for next year. While preventive care is fully covered by dental insurance, it also counts towards your annual maximum. Scheduling this visit before 2017 ends can save this money for next year, when you may need it more.