{"id":155,"date":"2021-11-02T19:43:00","date_gmt":"2021-11-02T19:43:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.edgewooddentalmc.com\/blog\/?p=155"},"modified":"2021-12-02T19:46:36","modified_gmt":"2021-12-02T19:46:36","slug":"use-it-or-lose-it-dental-insurance-benefits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.edgewooddentalmc.com\/blog\/2021\/11\/02\/use-it-or-lose-it-dental-insurance-benefits\/","title":{"rendered":"Are You Leaving Dental Benefits Behind?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Dental<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Dental insurance<\/a> benefits are meant to not only make dental treatments more affordable, but more predictable, especially when it comes to preventive services that protect your long-term oral health. Unfortunately, the average American only receives about $323 worth of dental treatment every year, despite typical plans holding annual maximums as high as $1,250. That means hundreds of dollars\u2019 worth of benefits go unused. To learn why you should set up a dental visit now and how to make sure you\u2019re getting the most out of the benefits you paid for, keep reading!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Dental Benefits Don\u2019t Carry Over<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you have a dental plan, your benefits become available after you meet your deductible. This amount can vary depending on your plan, but once you do meet it, your insurer will start covering portions of your dental treatments. However, these benefits are only available in the calendar year. That means if you have unused benefits, they won\u2019t carry over. Instead, they reset, making them what many dentists call \u201cuse it or lose it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why It\u2019s Essential to Use Your Benefits<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Because many people don\u2019t realize this, they\u2019ll try to schedule appointments for treatments that they don\u2019t have benefits for. Even if you\u2019ve already paid your deductible and been paying premiums every month, you won\u2019t get your money back even if you don\u2019t use your plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, waiting until late into the year only makes it more difficult to set up an appointment. This is because many people schedule at the last minute to make the most of their plan, causing the dental office\u2019s timeslots to fill up quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While at-home oral hygiene is crucial to long-term oral health, you can\u2019t necessarily call your smile fully protected unless you also complete routine checkups and cleanings every six months. The good news is when you have a dental insurance plan, you can expect to pay less in most cases compared to having no insurance at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Common Benefits Available in Most Dental Plans<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Coverage for dental treatments generally follows a 100-80-50 model, which refers to the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n