Planning to squeeze in a dental appointment over the holidays? End-of-the-year visits tend to fill up quickly, especially with people being off from work and school. But there’s another reason why you’ll want to be sure to snag an appointment ASAP: your dental insurance benefits are about to run out.
Do I Need to Use the Benefits by the End of the Year?
Most dental insurance plans run from January 1st to December 31st. Any coverage you don’t use during that period expires on the last day of the year, then resets again on January 1st. That means any allowables or coverage you don’t take advantage of is gone for good.
Depending on your plan’s specifics, the average policy covers 100% on preventative checkups and cleanings, and somewhere between $1,000-1,500 in restorative treatments, annually. Unfortunately, you cannot carry unused portions over into the next year and stack them with the newly refreshed allowance amount. What goes unused is completely voided out at the end of the day on December 31st.
And don’t forget about your deductible. If you’ve already made payments toward your deductible but wait until January 1st to schedule treatment, you’ll have to re-pay the deductible all over again. It’s financially more affordable to plan the treatment before the year ends.
Should I Use or Lose My Dental Benefits?
Dental conditions like tooth decay and gum disease only worsen with time. They do not improve or reverse themselves. Consequently, they can spread deeper into the tooth and adjacent teeth, multiplying the treatments required. Contrary to what you mind read online, there’s not a way to reverse them on your own.
Treating issues earlier, under the current calendar year, minimizes your out-of-pocket expenses. But most importantly, it reduces the damage to your overall smile. Early care preserves healthy tooth structures while also limiting the impact on your wallet. It’s a win-win for your smile and your family’s budget.
Perhaps you have multiple treatments that need to be scheduled. If that’s the case, our dentist in Kearny Mesa can help you prioritize which ones are most pressing, then schedule those first. Assuming you use all of your remaining coverage on those procedures, you can then arrange to have the next phase of treatment completed after January 1st, when your benefits reset. This strategy allows you to tap into two years of benefits in the span of just a couple of months.
When Should I Schedule an Appointment to Use My Remaining Benefits?
Right now. Landmark Dental Arts has limited appointments from now through the end of the year, but these openings will fill up quickly. Especially for people who have untreated dental issues that require attention. Fortunately, if you contact us at your earliest convenience, we can still find a time for you to see our dentist in Kearny Mesa before the end of the year.
If you haven’t already planned your second checkup for the year, right now is a great time to do so. Most insurance plans cover 100% of prevention-based services like cleanings and exams. These visits help you get ahead of preventable dental disease, giving you the tools you need to keep your smile healthy for decades to come. While some plans require your checkups to be six months apart, others cover two cleanings per year regardless of when they’re scheduled. If you have questions about what your insurance covers, be sure to call our dentist in Kearny Mesa. Our treatment coordinators can run a breakdown of your coverage to find out what’s still included in your annual benefit plan.
Visit Our Dentist in Kearny Mesa
Due for a checkup? Need to have that filling looked at? Contact Landmark Dental Arts to reserve your appointment with our dentist in Kearny Mesa.