The year 2014 is quickly winding to a close.  In the regular world, that often means plans for time with family, gift exchanges, preparations for the coming winter, and a look ahead to the next New Year.

In the healthcare field, however, things are a bit different…

If you have dental insurance, it’s important to make sure you are looking back as well as ahead to get the absolute best value from your plan coverage.

First, let’s take a look back on your current plan for 2014.   Many dental insurance plans renew at the beginning of each calendar year, or January 1, and the majority of dental insurance plans have a “use-it-or-lose-it” provision when it comes to benefit coverage.  This means any unused benefits on your plan will disappear once the new year starts.  For more detail on this concept, check out our blog post all about dental insurance.

So what does this mean, and what can you do about it?  If you have treatment you’ve been planning to have done, your best bet is to get it started and use up your benefits before the end of the year.  After all, those benefits belong to you – they are paid for by your premiums!

 

Dental Insurance Plans – There is a nifty advantage to being a bit of a procrastinator.

If you have treatment proposed that may not be covered by your remaining 2014 benefits, you can complete some of the treatment in November and December, and come back in January with a new set of benefits and take care of the rest!

How can you know what benefits you have left on your current policy?  If you purchased the policy on your own, you can contact the customer service number on the back of your insurance card.  If you receive your plan as a part of your work benefits, your HR department may be able to help you with the information.

If you’re a patient at 1st Family Dental, or you are planning to visit us for the first time, all you have to do is give us a call, and we’ll take care of the rest.  Our staff can explain your plan coverage, including what’s left on your policy for 2014, and help you to get the most out of your benefits, while minimizing any out of pocket expenses.

Do you have benefits expiring at the end of the year? We have appointments available. Contact us and we’ll get you scheduled!

Now let’s look forward to 2015.

Your insurance provider or your HR department may have sent you a note about available plans for 2015.  You may be thinking about adding dental insurance for yourself, or choosing from the options available through your employer.   Now is the best time to review available plans, as the end of a policy period means there are no penalties or gaps in coverage.

If you’re preparing to choose dental insurance plans for 2015, knowledge is power.

First, we recommend you review these dental health self-assessment questions to help you identify your coming dental health needs.  If you’d like to print these and use them later, here is a downloadable copy.

Second, arm yourself with information.  This list of questions for the insurance carrier or your HR department will help make sure you are choosing the plan that best meets your needs.  Get the downloadable version here.

Finally, make sure your dental provider is prepared to help you to maximize your benefits by asking these critical questions.  If you are a current or prospective patient of 1st Family Dental, we are happy to discuss your benefits and available options with you anytime.  For your convenience, here is a downloadable version of these questions.

Once you have selected your plan for 2015, please be sure to contact your dental provider with the updated information.

 

Do you have tips and techniques to share?  As always, we welcome questions, comments, and ideas!  Please leave a comment below or contact us anytime.