The holiday season is almost here, and with it comes family gatherings, festive meals, and joyful celebrations. But before you get caught up in the holiday spirit, it’s a good idea to think about your dental insurance benefits. If your plan resets at the end of the year, now is the time to use any remaining benefits. Here’s what you need to know to make the most of your dental insurance before time runs out!

Use It or Lose It: Why Do Dental Insurance Benefits Expire?

Did you know that most dental insurance benefits don’t carry over into the new year? That’s right—if you don’t use them, you lose them. Most (though not all) dental insurance plans run on a calendar year, meaning that on January 1st, your benefits reset.

Basically, dental insurance benefits are a maximum amount of money you have available to use on dental work each year.

If you have any remaining benefits left for 2024, they’ll expire when the year ends. That includes any money left in your yearly maximum, which is the most your insurance will pay for covered treatments.

Not using these benefits is like leaving money on the table. If you’ve been putting off a dental check-up or have treatment recommendations from Dr. Dunn or Dr. Nestle, now is the perfect time to take action.

How to Get the Most Out of Your Dental Insurance Plan

You’re paying for those benefits, so it’s only fair to get the most out of your coverage. Here are some practical tips to make sure you’re taking full advantage of your dental insurance:

1. Find out how much you have left of your available benefits.

The first step is knowing what you’ve got to work with. Contact your dental insurance provider or check your account online to see how much of your annual benefit limit is left. If you’re unsure how to do this, the team at Lake Baldwin Dental can help you figure it out. We want to ensure you know exactly what you have left to spend before the year rolls over.

2. Use any remaining benefits for cleanings, x-rays, and check-ups.

Almost all dental insurance plans offer coverage for preventive care. Cleanings, x-rays, and check-ups are usually included once or twice a year, and sometimes even more frequently. Many people don’t realize they could be getting three or even four cleanings under their plan!

Even if your teeth and gums feel great, an end-of-year cleaning can remove stains and give your smile a fresh look for holiday photos. Plus, regular check-ups can catch any issues before they become major problems, saving you time and money down the road.

3. Take care of those treatments you’ve been putting off.

Have you been avoiding that cavity filling? Need a crown replaced? Been chewing on one side because Dr. Dunn told you there’s a crack developing on the other side? Now is the time to take care of those treatment recommendations so you can enjoy the holidays with peace of mind and a clean bill of dental health. This is also a great way to avoid a dental emergency over the holidays!

By using your benefits before the end of the year, you can start the new year with a healthy smile and a clean slate. At Lake Baldwin Dental, we’re here to help you feel your best, so you can focus on what matters most: celebrating with family and friends.

4. Ask us about splitting up larger treatment plans.

For bigger treatment plans, like a root canal treatment or multiple fillings, we may be able to split up the work to use your benefits more effectively. If you need a procedure that can be done in stages, we may be able to complete part of it before the end of 2024 and the rest in 2025.

This allows you to take advantage of both years’ benefits, potentially saving you a significant amount of money. Our financial coordinators are happy to discuss your options and find the best plan for you.

5. Remember that you can combine your insurance benefits with third-party dental financing.

If your remaining benefits won’t cover all the dental care you need, don’t worry! At Lake Baldwin Dental, we work with CareCredit, a third-party dental financing option that can make it easy to build a comfortable payment plan so you can get the affordable dentistry you need.

This way, you can use up your insurance benefits and cover the rest with a financing plan that fits your budget. It’s a great way to get the care you need without worrying about a big upfront cost.

What About Using Your FSA for Dental Work?

If you have a Flexible Spending Account (FSA), it’s also important to know that most of these accounts have a “use it or lose it” policy at the end of the year. An FSA allows you to set aside pre-tax dollars for medical and dental expenses, including treatments and procedures that may not be fully covered by insurance. This is separate from an HSA (Health Savings Account), which may allow you to roll over some funds into the next year.

You can use your FSA to pay for dental services like fillings, crowns, and even orthodontic care. If you’re not sure which treatments are eligible, our team can help you understand your options. We’ll make sure you get the care you need while making the most of your FSA before the year ends.

Our Team Is Here to Help You Get the Most Out of Your Dental Insurance Benefits!

At Lake Baldwin Dental, we believe that everyone deserves affordable dental care. We strive to make dental visits as comfortable and stress-free as possible for our patients in Baldwin Park, FL, and the surrounding Orlando area. We know that understanding insurance benefits can be confusing, but our friendly team is here to help every step of the way.

Although we are not in-network with any insurance providers, we are happy to file claims and provide all necessary documentation on your behalf. This way, you can still take full advantage of your benefits, even if we’re not directly in your network. Our goal is to ensure you get the benefits you’re entitled to without sacrificing the quality of your care. Keep smiling, Orlando!