Maximize Your Dental Insurance Benefits with These 4 Tips

Do you have dental insurance? Since you pay for your policy month after month, it makes sense to use it to the fullest. It has the potential to provide you with low-cost preventive care, and it can help you out when your smile needs some restorative TLC. But how exactly can you maximize your dental insurance benefits? Here are five useful tips:

Schedule a Checkup

It is common for dental insurance policies to cover two routine preventive appointments each year. Usually, patients have to pay nothing out of pocket for these visits. If you have not yet attended your second cleaning and checkup of 2022, now is the time to get it on the books. Scheduling it as soon as possible can help you secure a time slot that fits in with your busy life.

Follow Up with Recommended Treatment

It is possible that your checkup will reveal decay or gum disease. If it does, be sure to receive any recommended follow-up care as soon as possible. Insurance usually covers about 80% of the cost of minor restorative care, such as fillings, while it only covers around 50% of the cost of more extensive treatments. Addressing problems sooner rather than later can help you save money and maximize your insurance benefits.

Remember that Benefits Reset

Many dental insurance plans operate on a calendar-year basis. If you have already taken care of your deductible for this year, you can now take full advantage of your benefits and pay as little as possible out of pocket for recommended services. However, if you wait until 2023 to schedule an appointment, you will have to start all over with your deductible. Acting now can allow you to avoid letting your current benefits disappear unused!

Consider Your Annual Maximum

Dental insurance plans usually have an annual maximum, which is a limit for how much the insurance company will pay out for approved services within a 12-month period. Since we are drawing close to the end of 2022, now is the perfect time to use up the remainder of this year’s maximum if there are any procedures that you have been putting off.

But what if you require a major service that will exceed the amount of your annual maximum? Try scheduling part of it for 2022 and the rest for 2023. You will thereby be able to use two annual maximums rather than one.

About the Author

Dr. Nicholas Mueller (just call him Dr. Nick!) earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of Minnesota and his dental doctorate at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. He is a current, active member of the American Dental Association, Chicago Dental Society, Wisconsin Dental Association, and the International Association of Orthodontics. To schedule a consultation for cosmetic dentistry at Shorewood Family Dentistry, visit our website or call us today at 414-332-8150.