{"id":576,"date":"2019-10-12T18:45:15","date_gmt":"2019-10-12T18:45:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.smilebydesignva.com\/blog\/?p=576"},"modified":"2019-11-12T18:52:47","modified_gmt":"2019-11-12T18:52:47","slug":"the-dos-and-donts-of-using-your-dental-insurance-benefits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.smilebydesignva.com\/blog\/the-dos-and-donts-of-using-your-dental-insurance-benefits\/","title":{"rendered":"The Do\u2019s and Don\u2019ts of Using Your Dental Insurance Benefits"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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There are roughly 250 million Americans with some form of dental benefits. If you are among that number, are you doing all you can to use your benefits to the full? Your insurance policy<\/a> is a precious resource that can help you prevent dental problems, and it serves as a safety net in case your smile ever needs a bit of repair work. You should certainly familiarize yourself with how it works so you can get as much value out of it as possible. Here are some practical do\u2019s and don\u2019ts from your dentist in Virginia Beach to help you maximize your benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Do Get to Know Your Policy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Most PPO dental plans work in basically the same way. You likely\nhave an annual maximum (the highest dollar amount that your insurance will pay\nout for benefits within a calendar year), a deductible, and a waiting period before\nyou\u2019re eligible for certain services. Taking the time to get to know those and\nother details of your policy will put you in the best position to use it to\nyour greatest advantage. If you have questions about how your coverage works,\neither your insurance provider or the staff at your dentist\u2019s office may be\nable to help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t Let Your Benefits Expire Without Using Them<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

How much of your 2019 annual maximum do you have remaining?\nFor the vast majority of PPO plans, unused benefits dollars will not <\/em>roll\nover into 2020. Since most people (more than 95 percent, according to the National\nAssociation of Dental Plans) do not reach or exceed their plan\u2019s maximum, that\namounts to billions of dollars in lost benefits each year. To make sure your\nbenefits do not go to waste, you should be diligent about keeping up with\nrecommended dental care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do Schedule a Year-End Checkup<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Most PPO dental plans allow policyholders to attend two\npreventive appointments each year. Since these visits are usually 100 percent\ncovered, you could receive a refreshing cleaning and checkup for nothing out of\npocket. If you have not yet had your second preventive appointment of 2019, now\nis the ideal time to schedule it. If the checkup reveals any developing dental\nproblems, you may still have time to get those taken care of before the end of\nthe year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t Forget to Strategize<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What if you require a major dental treatment, and you do not\nhave enough remaining of this year\u2019s maximum to cover it? Since many major\ntreatments take place across multiple appointments, you may be able to split\nyours up across 2019 and 2020. You could therefore use two <\/em>annual\nmaximums rather than just one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are you getting your money\u2019s worth from your dental\ninsurance? Use the above tips to maximize your benefits and minimize your oral\nhealthcare costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the Author<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Stephanie Santos is an experienced, accomplished dentist\nin Virginia Beach. She is passionate about helping patients enjoy all the\nbenefits of sound oral health. She also understands that many families are\nconcerned about paying for their treatment, which is why our practice is insurance-friendly.\nWe are even in-network with a number of major benefits providers, including: <\/p>\n\n\n\n