Dental benefits are an important part of keeping your smile healthy, but many people forget to use them before the year ends. With the “use it or lose it” rule in place, unused dental benefits won’t carry over to the next year. If you’ve been paying into your dental plan, don’t let those benefits go to waste! Here’s what you need to know regarding your expiration of dental benefits and how you can maximize your coverage.
What Does “Use It or Lose It” Mean?
“Use it or lose it” is our term for dental plans that operate on a calendar-year basis. When the year ends, if you fail to utilize your benefits, you lose them — they don’t roll over. This is representative of the majority of dental insurance plans, in which preventive services, including cleanings, exams, and X-rays, are covered fully. The more you take advantage of your benefits before they expire, the fewer out-of-pocket expenses you will incur for essential treatments.
When your dental benefits are about to expire, you might feel forced into making an appointment. That’s because many folks wait until the last minute to exhaust all of their benefits. But waiting too long can leave you scrambling to book an appointment, and you might even forgo the treatment that you really need.
Maximize Your Dental Coverage
To make the most of your dental benefits, planning is important. Here’s how you can avoid losing valuable dental benefits:
- Schedule regular cleanings: A healthy smile comes through preventive care. Two cleanings annually at no additional cost are included in most plans, so don’t let them pass you by.
- Get a checkup: Checkups can detect small issues before they result in expensive problems.
- Use your coverage for more than just cleanings: Many plans also offer coverage for fillings, crowns, and X-rays. If you’ve been putting off treatment, now is the time to schedule it before the year is over.
The Importance of Early Dental Visits
If you’ve been putting off a dentist visit, it’s easy to underestimate the importance of going early. But avoiding routine visits can lead to bigger dental issues down the road. Routine visits prevent major issues and cost you less down the line.
As your dental benefits date of expiration approaches, remember that the earlier you reserve, the better opportunity there will be for you to obtain appointment times you need. Booking your appointment well in advance, rather than procrastinating until your last month, will also give you more flexibility.
Act Before Your Dental Benefits Expiry
Your hard-earned dental benefits should not be lost. At JP Dental, we are here to help you get the most out of your benefits. Schedule your year-end dental visit today. Let us help you make your benefits work for you so that you can protect your smile and your wallet.
