Reasons to Use Your Dental Benefits Before They Expire

Use it or lose it. That’s the bottom line for most dental insurance plans. You pay a lot for it, but if you don’t use the benefits during the calendar year, they disappear at the beginning of the next one. That’s a lot of money gone down the drain.

At Hometown Family Dental Centers, our expert dental professionals accept dental insurance, and we also offer our own discount savings plan (not insurance) to cover everything from preventive dentistry to in-office procedures. Whichever you have, it’s to your advantage to use your benefits before they expire. Here’s why.

The value of dental insurance and discount plans

According to the National Association of Dental Plans, only 2.8% of those who have a PPO dental plan reach or exceed their plan’s annual maximum by the end of the year. That means 97.2% of people with a dental plan leave behind hard-earned money they’ve paid into the plan or account, because the unspent portion doesn’t roll over to the following calendar year.

In addition, many people opt for Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) provided by their employer, which help them pay for dental and medical care with pre-tax dollars. If they don’t use all their benefits within the calendar year, they, too, lose the money they invested in the account and can’t recoup it.

Dental insurance doesn’t just cover emergency visits; it also covers the all-important preventive care, such as professional cleanings, X-rays, and oral cancer screenings. Why wait until you have an emergency before you tap into your plan’s benefits?

FSAs go even further, with some covering most services and products intended for good oral health, such as braces, plan copays, dentures, and more.

Hometown Family Dental Centers Discount Savings Plan

In addition to dental insurance, Hometown Family Dental Centers offers a savings plan for individuals and families. Benefits include:

• One comprehensive and one periodic exam (or) two periodic exams 

-OR-

• One limited exam with a periodic or comprehensive exam 
• Max of 2 exams – any combination
• Full mouth X-rays – unlimited X-rays as needed

The plan is effective for one year from the date of payment.

Reasons to use your dental benefits before they expire

Whether it’s insurance, an FSA, or a discount plan, it’s smart to maximize your benefits before they expire.

First, you’ve paid good money for your plan, and not to take advantage of its benefits means you’re throwing money down the drain. You’re just going to have to shell out more money for the following year, as the benefits don’t roll over.

Second, preventive care is a crucial part of good oral health, and if you’re not using your benefits, you’re not getting preventive care. Why wait until you have an abscessed tooth and are in terrible pain before seeing the dentist?  Regular maintenance is far less expensive and more comfortable than dental emergencies.

Third, planning ahead means you’re not surprised by what comes up down the line. When you’re at a preventive care appointment, ask the dentist about your treatment plan for the rest of the year. See if they have suggestions for treatments (e.g., braces, fluoride treatments) that you might not have considered. That way, your benefits go to good use.

If you’ve got dental insurance or a discount plan and aren’t sure how or why to use the benefits you have, call Hometown Family Dental Centers in Fayetteville, Raeford, or Vass, North Carolina, and we’ll be happy to discuss this with you.