{"id":279,"date":"2018-11-05T20:48:43","date_gmt":"2018-11-05T20:48:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.centeronedental.com\/blog\/?p=279"},"modified":"2018-11-16T20:53:39","modified_gmt":"2018-11-16T20:53:39","slug":"dentist-explains-why-should-use-dental-insurance-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.centeronedental.com\/blog\/2018\/11\/05\/dentist-explains-why-should-use-dental-insurance-now\/","title":{"rendered":"Dentist Explains Why You Should Use Your Dental Insurance Now"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"AWhen the holidays are around the corner and all you can think about is spending time with family members, making holiday dinner, decorating the house and buying gifts, it\u2019s easy to forget about your regular doctor appointments<\/a>. However, if you\u2019re part of the majority of Americans who has dental insurance, you don\u2019t want to forget about your annual benefits.<\/p>\n

After all, you paid for those benefits at the beginning of the year and once the new year begins, you won\u2019t be able to use them. Learn why and what you should do next!<\/p>\n

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Dental Insurance: A Use it or Lose it Scenario<\/h2>\n

According to the National Association of Dental Plans, only 2.8 percent of PPO plan participants met or exceeded their annual maximum. This refers to the total amount that an insurance company will cover for treatments. Based on a report from the American Dental Association (ADA), the average individual only used $323 worth of dental benefits, even though the average annual maximum is $1,250.<\/p>\n

Clearly, people don\u2019t make the most of their dental insurance when they have them. In this example alone, that individual is leaving $900 worth of benefits on the table. That\u2019s why dentists across the country are imploring people to schedule a treatment before January 1st when they expire. Keep in mind that those with Flexible Spending Account (FSA) funds also have reason to schedule. These funds are not likely to carry over into the new year and even if they do, it\u2019s typically at a discounted rate.<\/p>\n

The First Step to Maximizing Benefits<\/h2>\n

Start by contacting the insurance company directly or your employer if you get insurance from them. Whether you\u2019re speaking to an insurance agent or your HR manager, both can give you valuable insight to the nuances of your plan as well as what benefits you have leftover to use. You\u2019ll also want to ask how much you have remaining in your annual maximum. Knowing this information will help you plan your future treatments more effectively.<\/p>\n

Treatments to Consider<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019ve only been to the dentist once this year and it was only for a routine cleaning, it\u2019s very likely that you have another cleaning\/exam benefit to utilize. The ADA recommends that you visit for cleanings at least once every six months, so this is a very common benefit for dental plans. You\u2019ll also want to check if you need any other preventive treatments, including:<\/p>\n