Still need some dental work this year? Now is the time to schedule it before any unused dental benefits expire or funds in your Flexible Spending Account (FSA) expire at the end of this year.
You’d be surprised to learn that you probably haven’t used all of your plan’s annual benefits. Only 3% of people with PPO dental plans reach or exceed their annual maximum. And most people also have unused balances in their FSA, or Health Savings Account (HSA), which also help pay for dental care with pre-tax dollars.
Don’t ring in the New Year leaving your money on the table! If you’ve paid your insurance premiums all year, or you have remaining funds in a FSA/HSA don’t let these benefits slip away before the New Year starts – in less than 3 months!
From dental exams to fillings, or getting started on more complicated dental work – broken crowns, chipped teeth or tooth replacement – we can help you maximize any of your unused benefits towards work you need now.
Life gets hectic, so it’s easy to forget or neglect to schedule your routine check-ups. Try to schedule an appointment to come in before the end of the year, so that you can put your dental benefits to work before you lose them.
5 Reasons to Use Your Dental Benefits Before the Year Ends!
- Prolonging Dental Problems Can Cost More (+ Harm Your Health!)
Neglecting annual check-ups or delaying certain dental treatments can lead to more extensive, and costly, future dental treatment. A lingering cavity today turns into a root canal down the road. Waiting to replace a missing tooth can cause to more oral and overall health issues. Putting your benefits to work now towards any dental care you may need now prevents needing more serious (and costly) dental work in the near future. - You Haven’t Reached Your Yearly Insurance Maximum
Your dental provides a maximum dollar amount that can be spent towards your annual dental care. If you haven’t met your annual maximum yet and know, or suspect, that you may need additional dental work, you can take care of some of it this year, and begin with a new maximum next year. While the max amount varies amongst different dental plans and typically resets at the end of the year (Dec 31st), so if you have any unused benefits that you can apply to your dental care, these will be forfeited. - You’ve Reached (or Just About Reached) Your Annual Deductible
Your insurance deductible is the amount of money that you pay out of pocket before your insurance pays for any of your dental care. This deductible varies between insurance companies and may be higher if you prefer seeing a dentist who is out of your plan’s network. When your plan rolls over at the beginning of the year, you start from ground zero paying towards a new deductible before you can take advantage of your dental benefits. - Don’t Lose Your Existing FSA Contributions
A Flexible Savings Account (FSA) is an account that you’ve established through your employer to have some of your pre-tax pay put into. If you have an FSA account that has a remaining balance in that you can use towards your dental care, you’ll want to use up this balance before the end of the year, as you can lose this by the end of the year. - Your Insurance Might Change Next Year
Changes in health care plans happen every year. If your current health insurance plan changes after the New Year, either because you or your employer change health/dental insurance carriers, next year’s dental benefits may not be as good as they are now.
If you know that you need to have some dental work done and you still have dental benefits that you can apply towards this work, now is the time to get it done…before everyone else is trying to get in BEFORE the New Year!
Schedule your appointment now to save the best days and times that work for you, and get a jump on the year-end rush! Just give us a call at (206) 524-1000 or contact us online and we’ll get you on the schedule before the holidays!
** Not Sure If You Still Have Dental Benefits to Use?
Ask your insurance provider. Your online resource or insurance representative can help you find out if you have any dental benefits remaining with your dental insurance plan.
If you have an FSA account, or a Health Savings Account (HSA), and want to check if you still have funds you can apply, contact your FSA representative (or your Human Resources department, if you’re not sure). You should also verify with your FSA what types of dental services you can be reimbursed for. These generally include dental treatments for the prevention and alleviation of dental disease, including fillings, teeth cleanings, x-rays and other dental treatments.