2020 Dental Insurance: 3 Tips to Maximize Your Coverage Before The New Year

Do you have a dental plan, but are completely at a loss for how to utilize your benefits to the fullest? You’re not alone. Unfortunately, this means you may unintentionally be leaving unused coverage and wasted dollars on the table each year. To prevent that from happening in 2020, use the below best practices to maximize your insurance benefits before the end of the year!

#1. Schedule Your Second Checkup and Cleaning

Without your biannual checkups and cleanings with your dentist, your oral hygiene regimen is incomplete. After all, these routine appointments do so much more than just catch cavities in the early stages, which is why most dental plans cover up to 100% of the cost of preventive care. That being said, if you miss one of these visits, you don’t get an extra one the following year. So, if you missed one due to the shutdown in March or a jam-packed schedule as 2020 draws to a close, make sure to schedule it ASAP.

#2. Use Your Remaining Annual Maximum for Recommended Treatment

Whether you have gone all year without a professional cleaning or a few too many holiday treats have left their mark on your teeth, your dental exam may end with a recommendation from your dentist to get anything from a cavity to root canal therapy. While your initial reaction may be to put off your treatment until after the new year, it is important to first check if you’ve met your annual maximum. If you haven’t, then you still have valuable benefits available that can be used to restore the function and aesthetic of your teeth! So, for the sake of your oral health and your wallet, you may want to schedule your treatment sooner rather than later.

#3. Utilize Your FSA Dollars to Cover Out-of-Pocket Expenses

Whether you’ve already met your annual maximum or you require a restorative service that your insurance provider only covers at 50%, you may have some out-of-pocket expenses. Fortunately, if you have a Flexible Spending Account through your employer, you can use those dollars to cover the cost! After all, there are typically restrictions that prevent the balance from carrying over year after year, so why not use it for your dental care?

At the end of the day, you want your dental insurance to benefit your oral health and your wallet. Luckily, you can make that a reality by using the above tips!

About the Author

Dr. DawnMarie DiGrazia earned her D.M.D. in 2002 from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, and she has been helping patients with preventive, restorative, and cosmetic dentistry ever since! She and her team at Somerset Dental Arts are happy to work with many of the nation’s leading insurance providers, including Delta Dental and Cigna. Plus, they accept low-to-no interest financing through CareCredit for patients without a dental plan! If you have a question about utilizing your coverage or would like to schedule an appointment before the new year, visit her website or give her a call at 908-722-2999.