7 Reasons to Check Your Dental Benefits Before 2021

The end of the calendar year offers an opportunity for you to maximize your dental benefits before they reset in January. You deserve to get what you pay for and have the best smile possible, so be sure to check with Dr. Pamela Cain’s Knoxville dental office to find out what procedures your insurance will cover. You might be surprised to learn that you can still get that treatment you need!

1. The Yearly Max

Many plans have an annual maximum coverage cap, usually around $1,000 to $1,500 per person. The amount up to the cap is the amount the insurance will pay before you are responsible for paying out-of-pocket. This renews annually on the first of the year in most cases, so it makes sense to use up to your maximum before it resets.

2. Overlapping Years

If you have a series of dental procedures lined up, such as implant preparation or a dental bridge, you can schedule them to straddle the new year. This can reduce your out-of-pocket costs by dipping into the coverage maximums of two benefit years.

3. Tax Benefits

If your employer offers a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) to contribute to out of your pay on a pre-tax basis, it’s in your best interest to use your entire deduction amount for the year. If not, you will be forfeiting any FSA contribute you don’t use by the end of year deadline. If you have a Health Savings Account (HSA), you can also use the balance to improve your oral health without suffering any tax penalties.

4. Deductibles

Once you’ve met your deductible, schedule an appointment for a procedure you’ve been putting off. A deductible is the amount you are responsible for out-of-pocket before your benefits kick in. The deductible resets at the beginning of the next plan year just like your annual maximum, so find out from our office how we can work with your insurance company.

5. Monthly Premiums

If you are paying monthly premiums for dental insurance, you should be using those benefits. Many people regard dental insurance as a safety net against high costs related to unexpected emergency dental procedures. If you don’t currently have any serious dental concerns, however, you should use your benefits to have routine services such as cleanings to detect minor issues before they become serious.

6. Avoid Fee Increases

Because of the increasing cost of materials or equipment, practitioners must raise their fees from time to time. As the New Year begins, providers always review their pricing to determine whether fee increases are needed. If you wait until after the New Year, you may end up paying a higher co-pay. So it makes sense to schedule your appointment in November or December, before any potential fee increases.

7. Improve Your Oral Health Affordably

While it’s common to put off things we don’t want to do, especially dental work that might be uncomfortable. Unfortunately, the vast majority of dental issues will only get worse with time. Procrastination tends to lead to more discomfort and higher costs when you finally do seek treatment. If you go now, before the end of the year, you are likely to pay less for your treatment. On the other hand, if you wait, you may have to pay more and your dental insurance provider may not be willing to contribute as much.

To learn more about the insurance and payment options we accept at Today’s Dentistry LLC, call our offices at (865) 219-3622.