Why You Should Use Your Dental Insurance Benefits Before The New Year

Fall is usually a hectic time for parents and children as they adapt to the new school year, finish fall sports seasons, and get ready for Thanksgiving. Between work and taking care of their families, most parents are busy around this time of year.

As the end of the year approaches and your schedule fills up with commitments, Edgemere Dental would like to remind you to make time for dental appointments for yourself and your family.

Use your insurance benefits before 2023!

If you want to use your dental insurance benefits for next year, you have to visit the dentist before December 31st of this year. This is because dental insurance doesn’t roll over like some other insurance; if you don’t use it now, you lose the chance to ever use it! So make sure to take advantage of your plan while you still can. Here are some more reasons to schedule your next visit before it’s too late.

Use Your Dental Benefits Before It’s Too Late!

Millions of Americans have dental insurance through their employers, and although it may feel like you’re wasting money every month, that’s actually not the case. The average American underestimates how much their dental benefits are worth–if used correctly, most people’s benefits cover almost all the associated costs of going to the dentist at least twice a year. In this post, we’ll show you how to get maximum value from your policy before your yearly benefits expire.

Your Dental Benefits are Set to Expire In 2023

Many people believe that their unspent insurance benefits will automatically roll over to the next year, but this is seldom true with most companies. Your dental coverage WILL NOT carry over and your insurance plan will reset on January 1st. Some plans allow for only two dental exams and teeth cleanings per calendar year.

Edgemere Dental in El Paso can help you schedule your next dental visit. If you don’t use your insurance benefits regularly, you won’t be able to access them Check-ups are typically from November to January, depending on your insurance provider’s expiration date.

Yearly maximum

Every year, your dental insurance benefits come with a yearly maximum per provider. The yearly maximum is the most money that the dental plan will pay for covered work within each new year, and it usually renews at some point between September 1st and December 31st. Even if you don’t use all of your available coverage before the end of any given year, leftover coverage won’t roll over into the next one– so be sure to take advantage of everything while it’s still active!

Time is running out!

The holiday season is almost upon us, and our schedule is quickly filling up. However, this presents a unique opportunity for you to prioritize your dental healthcare regimen. Call our office as soon as possible so we can book an appointment that fits your busy schedule.

Routine dental exams

Although you might brush and floss your teeth thoroughly every day, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t see the dentist. At our dental office, we can help prevent any future problems through regular check-ups–something it would be difficult for you to do on your own at home. Many dental health issues don’t cause pain or become visible immediately, so it’s crucial to have a dentist take a look at your mouth every six months.

Early detection is vital for maintaining good dental health, yet many people only see their dentist when they have a problem. This chronic lack of preventive care results in more serious issues later on, which are often much more difficult (and expensive) to treat. By seeing your dentist regularly for exams and cleanings, you can avoid these complications and keep your smile healthy and bright.

SAVE MONEY ON TREATMENTS YOU NEED

If you need a particular treatment, such as a filling, crown, implant, or bridge, this is the perfect procedure to use your benefits for. Depending on what dental benefits you have left, you might be able to get a majority of the procedure paid for, or at least only have to pay a small portion of the costs.

If your remaining benefits cover only part of a procedure that you need, you might be able to have some work done before the year’s end and delay the rest of the work until next year when your benefits reset. It’s not always possible to split a procedure into two phases, but sometimes a dentist can do work in stages.

GET PREVENTIVE CARE AND CHECK FOR ISSUES

It’s often a good idea to use your dental benefits on preventive care if you don’t have any specific work that needs to be done. This includes cleanings, fluoride treatments, and X-rays – all of which are important parts of taking care of your teeth. Many plans cover these preventative procedures (among others), so it’s definitely worth looking into. Not only does prevention help avoid bigger issues down the road, but the earlier you catch problems, the easier and cheaper they are to fix!

Get ahead of the crowd now

Now is the time to schedule your end-of-year dental appointment. Every year, people wait until December to book their appointments and then find that there are none available. If you want to avoid the rush and get seen by your preferred provider, make your appointment before December 1st. You can find out which providers participate in your insurance plan by asking your employer for the information or contacting your insurance provider directly. Or, if you have any questions regarding coverage, our staff at Edgemere Dental would be happy to help you out!

Schedule Your Next Appointment Today!

Our front desk would love to hear from you and answer any questions you may have about insurance, treatments, and more. Give them a call at (915) 921-6200 or if it’s easier for you, schedule an appointment online by clicking the button below. We look forward to hearing from you!