Can you explain what the use-it-or-lose-it policy means in terms of dental insurance?
Use-it-or-lose-it means that you are given a set amount of benefits in a given year, and if you don't use your benefits for that year, despite paying for your dental insurance, you will lose those benefits. It does not roll over or renew the following year, and so you will have to start over with a brand new fresh set. We hope that what you will gain from this video is insight on how to best utilize your benefits, and that way you're maximizing what you are already paying for through your dental insurance.
Why is it important for patients to be aware of their dental insurance benefits before the end of the year?
It is important for patients to be aware of their dental benefits before the end of the year because they're going to expire, and we want to make sure that you are able to get the full coverage of your insurance because you're paying for it. Additionally, it can help offset the cost of dental care. We are very passionate about reducing the cost as much as we can for our patients, and so if you're paying for your insurance, then we want to make sure we maximize it this year, next year, every year if you are needing something that your insurance will cover.
What common dental benefits do people often overlook or fail to use before they expire?
Common dental benefits that people often overlook before they expire are their cleanings, x-rays, exams, fillings, crowns—pretty much anything your insurance covers will often be overlooked. And so we want to make sure you take full advantage of that.
How can patients find out what benefits they have remaining before the end of the year?
A question many patients will ask themselves is, "Well, how do I find out what benefits I have remaining?" The best way to find out is to call our office. We can help you identify and locate what benefits you have remaining. A secondary option would be to call your insurance as well. Some insurances even have an option of logging on to an online portal where we or you can see the benefits that remain.
What are some typical misconceptions patients have about their dental insurance benefits and the use-it-or-lose-it policy?
Common misconceptions that people have regarding the use-it-or-lose-it policy in dental insurance is that their benefits roll over. If I don't use them this year, then they'll roll over to next year. Unfortunately, dental insurance doesn't do that. Unless you utilize your benefits this year, you won't have a new set of benefits next year. It's important to make sure, as we're heading into the end of the year, that you get in right away. That way there's time and space available to utilize those benefits.
How does using dental benefits before the end of the year impact the patient's overall oral health?
Utilizing your dental benefits before the end of the year impacts your oral health because your insurance allows for a certain number of cleanings, exams, and x-rays to be done every year. Preventive care is the cheapest way. For most patients, their preventive care is covered almost completely or if not 100% by your insurance. So that is going to be the cheapest way to utilize your benefits. Also, you're paying for it. When you look at the offset of what you pay and what preventive measures cost, it's equal. At least for you to break even with what you're paying for your dental insurance, utilizing your preventive benefits is the best way. Preventive care helps us either prevent future problems or catch problems while they're small so they don't turn into bigger problems for you.
What would you recommend to someone who hasn't used their dental benefits yet this year?
What I would recommend to someone who has not utilized their dental benefits this year is to give us a call and get in right away. The end of the year is quickly approaching. We are about to enter into the holiday season, and we know how busy that gets. So give us a call as soon as you can, and that way we can accommodate your schedule and get you ready for that holiday season so you're eating good.
Can you give an example of how someone might save money by using their dental benefits rather than waiting?
A way of utilizing your benefits, how it can save you money now, is that if you catch problems when they're either not there or when they're small, it prevents future problems from happening. If you have benefits, say, to go towards a filling, but you don't use your benefits for that, you're dragging out the time of that cavity being there, allowing it to grow. Then next year, it might turn into a root canal, a crown, something much more expensive. That's why it's always best to get things early on while they're at the smallest place because nothing stays the same; it will always grow.
How can patients work with their dental office to maximize their benefits before they expire?
The best way for a patient to know how to maximize their benefits is to work with the dental office. We have highly trained insurance coordinators and also treatment coordinators that will help plan the timeline of your treatment. That way we can utilize and strategically plan how we can best take advantage of the insurance that you have. We know the end of the year is coming. We know most benefits renew at the beginning of the year. So if someone has an extensive treatment plan, perfect. We're going to utilize what we can this year, and then we will take care of what's most urgent. Then we'll roll it into next year and time it to where we can have a new fresh set of benefits again to lower the cost. Our goal is to lower the financial burden of what dentistry can be at times or what health care can be. We want to ensure that you are staying as healthy as possible at the lowest cost possible.
What is the first step someone should take if they want to use their remaining benefits before the end of the year?
The first step that a person should take is to call our office. We have a series of many people that are highly trained to help you with this. We are passionate about caring for people, and we want to help you through this process. So first step, give us a call. We'll get you scheduled, and then we can walk you through the next steps. If it's been a while, we're happy to get you in for a free consult to discuss how we can utilize what you have for the remaining of this year. That way you are getting healthy and you are your best self as we enter into another year.
So in conclusion, I hope this video about the use-it-or-lose-it policy in dental insurance was helpful for you. We are eager to help you. Please give our office a call at (210) 972-0768. You can also request an appointment on InspireDentalSA.com. We will have links available to you on how you can contact us. We look forward to helping you and hope to speak and see you soon. Thank you. This is Dr. Jones signing out.