3 Tips for Maximizing Your Dental Insurance Benefits

If you’re like most people with dental insurance, you pay your monthly premiums without thinking too much about it. Sure, you know that insurance makes your care more affordable. But unless you know how to maximize your dental insurance benefits, you might not be saving as much money as you could be! Luckily, making the most of your dental plan is simple. Just keep these three tips in mind!

1. Know What Your Plan Covers

No two dental insurance policies are exactly alike, but most of them operate on a similar framework when it comes to how much coverage they provide for different types of care. This framework, known as the “100-80-50 rule,” looks something like this:

• Preventive care (checkups, cleanings, etc.) is 90-100% covered.
• Minor restorative care (tooth-colored fillings, gum disease therapy, etc.) is 70-80% covered.
• Major restorative care (dental crowns, root canals, etc.) is 40-50% covered.

Services that are not considered medically necessary, like cosmetic dentistry, are rarely if ever covered by insurance.

2. Attend Two Dental Checkups a Year

Dental insurance is primarily focused on preventing problems rather than treating them as they arise. To that end, most dental plans cover two checkups and cleanings each year at no additional cost to you. These quick and easy appointments are the simplest way to minimize your dental bills in the long run. They give your dentist the chance to treat oral health issues early on or even prevent them from developing in the first place. Waiting to see your dentist until your teeth hurt could cause you to need expensive procedures that could have been avoided.

3. Don’t Let Your Annual Maximum Go to Waste

After you’ve paid your deductible, your dental insurance provider will start covering a certain amount of your care per year (based on the 100-80-50 rule). This amount, known as your annual maximum, typically expires once the year ends, and any unused benefits do NOT roll over.

If you end up needing a treatment more extensive than a routine exam and cleaning, schedule it before 2021 ends. That way, you can keep your annual maximum from going to waste while avoiding the need to pay your deductible again.

Knowing how to maximize your dental insurance benefits not only saves you a great deal of money, but it also helps you maintain a healthy smile. If you still have questions on how to use your benefits to the fullest, feel free to give your dentist a call.

About the Author

Dr. Steven Amburgey is a family dentist in Abingdon, VA with more than 15 years of experience in the field. His perfectionist tendencies, attention to detail, and outgoing nature lead to his patients having amazing experiences while getting the care their smiles need. Dr. Amburgey is in-network with Delta Dental and United Concordia, but his team is happy to handle claims paperwork for patients with any PPO dental plan! To learn more about maximizing your dental insurance benefits, reach out to Dr. Amburgey by calling 276-258-5568.