Category: Dental Insurance

Getting the Most Out of Your Dental Insurance: Don’t Let Your Benefits Expire

Imagine paying for a gym membership but never actually going. It feels like a waste, right? That’s how many people treat their dental insurance—something they have but rarely use to its full potential. You may not realize that most dental insurance plans operate on a “use it or lose it” basis. If you don’t take advantage of your benefits before the year ends, they vanish, leaving you without the care you’ve already paid for.

So, how can you ensure you’re keeping valuable dental care from slipping away? It’s all about strategy and knowing what your insurance offers. Let’s break it down and ensure you get the most bang for your buck.

Know What You’re Covered For

First, let’s start with a critical step: understanding what your dental insurance covers. Too many people assume their insurance only covers essential cleaning, but most plans offer much more. Regular exams, x-rays, fillings, and even more involved treatments like crowns or root canals might be covered. It’s a good idea to get a copy of your plan’s details or speak with your dentist to see what’s available.

By knowing your coverage, you can schedule essential treatments and services before the year ends. Instead of waiting for a problem to arise, proactive use of your benefits can prevent future issues—and save you from more significant expenses.

Schedule Preventive Care Early

Most insurance plans often fully cover preventive care, meaning you won’t have to shell out extra for cleanings and exams. Regular dental checkups catch problems early when they’re easier and less expensive. Yet, many people delay these visits, thinking they’ll get to it “eventually.” Before you know it, the year has flown by, and those unused benefits have disappeared.

Suppose you’re due for a checkup or cleaning; book immediately. Dentists at Smiles Of Virginia tend to get fully booked toward the end of the year as everyone scrambles to use their benefits. By scheduling now, you’ll secure your spot and ensure you’re making the most of your plan before time runs out.

Don’t Wait for a Problem

Putting off dental work until something hurts is tempting, but that’s a risky game. Minor issues like cavities can turn into major headaches (literally) if left untreated. Why wait until a minor fix becomes a big, expensive one?

Consider this: if your insurance covers part or most of the treatment, why not take advantage of that now? By addressing minor problems before they escalate, you can save yourself a lot of pain—and money—down the road. Use your benefits now for restorative care like fillings, crowns, or even orthodontics if they’re covered. Your future self will thank you.

Maximize Your Annual Maximum

Dental insurance plans usually have an annual maximum—the highest amount your insurer will pay within a year. If you haven’t hit that limit, you’re leaving money on the table. Think of it like this: that unused amount won’t roll over into the following year. Once the year ends, it’s gone for good.

Take stock of where you are with your dental treatments and benefits. If you have significant work you’ve been putting off, it may make sense to complete it before the year ends. Need a crown or a series of fillings? Now might be the time to act. 

Coordinate With Your Dentist

One of the best strategies for maximizing dental insurance is working closely with your dentist. They can help you prioritize treatments based on insurance coverage and health needs. Splitting treatments across two calendar years is common to maximize your insurance benefits.

For example, if you need multiple procedures, consider completing some now and finishing others at the beginning of next year when your benefits reset. This way, you’re spreading the costs and coverage across two periods while taking full advantage of your insurance.

Time to Take Action

Every year, millions of dollars in dental benefits go unused. You’ve paid for these benefits—why not use them? By acting now, you can maximize what you’ve already invested in and take care of your dental health.

No one likes wasting money, and your dental insurance is no different. Don’t let your benefits expire unused. Call your dentist in Winchester VA at Smiles Of Virginia today and start planning how to make the most of what you’re already paying for. Your teeth (and your wallet) will thank you later.

Importance of Dental Insurance

Want to get the smile of dreams to maintain your oral health? The best way to do so is visiting a reliable dental clinic on a regular basis. But we are all aware of the fact that dental work can at times be the reason for the hole in your pocket. This is exactly where the importance of dental insurance policies emerge. They play a vital role in helping you to efficiently maintain your dental health by covering a major portion of the money to be spent at dental clinics. 

Here at Smiles of Virginia, Winchester, VA, we often face questions related to dental insurance. It is due to this reason that we decided to pick up this topic and draw an end to all confusion. Just remember that getting a clear understanding of how dental insurances work is pretty simple. They can be a part of the total medical insurance or you can also go for stand-alone dental insurance.

The dental treatments covered by the insurance policies can be divided into three broad broad categories – major, basic and preventive. 

  • The major plan includes getting implants, dentures and bridges etc. Fifty percent of the cost is generally covered by the insurance policies in such cases
  • The preventive treatment covers X-rays, protection of teeth with sealants, and annual cleaning sessions of the mouth.
  • Whereas the basic plan involves issues related to teeth, gum, extractions, root canals, and fillings.

You should know that the procedures that are included in cosmetic dentistry are generally not covered by insurance companies. It is advisable to always gather detailed information about what all the dental insurance covers before committing to it. 

How do Dental Insurance Policies function?

People often hesitate while getting dental insurance as they do not have clarity about how these policies actually work. Well, getting a clear understanding of the topic will definitely be effective in shedding all such inhibitions. 

  • Firstly, you need to choose an insurance plan depending on the affordability and the dentist you wish to be able to select.
  • If the dentist of your choice already has a tie-up with the insurance company’s network, you will have to face no issues. But, if this is not the case then you need to select one from the dentists who are already in the network of the insurance company. 
  • The monthly premiums of the insurance companies are generally based on the cost of living of the area where you live and the policy you select. 

The Insurance Policy at Smiles of Virginia

Smiles of Virginia Family Dental Center is a participating network provider with Delta Dental Insurance. We also realize that money is a big factor that can act as a hurdle and stop people from seeking quality medical assistance. Keeping all such things in mind, we have kept the price of various treatments reasonable so that everyone can avail of them. Be assured of the fact that you will also be able to utilize the maximum benefits which come under the insurance policy. All you gotta do is just let our professionals know about it and they will happily investigate your plan on your behalf before your appointment.

Our primary motto is to make the lives of patients better and help them to surpass all challenges with ease. Hence, we take special initiative to file all your insurance claims on your behalf. Smiles of Virginia Family Dental Center have a direct online interface with many insurance companies to help our patients understand what their insurance will cover. Our professionals are also aware of the particulars of the various dental insurances. So worry no more, just get in touch with us and get all your dental issues resolved without feeling any pocket pinch. You can go through the information available on our website to find out about the wide array of dental treatments offered at the Smiles of Virginia Family Dental Center in Winchester, VA. Thank you.