Use It Or Lose It: Why Using Dental Insurance Now Can Save You Hundreds?

As the end of the year draws near, your dental benefits are on the clock. If you haven’t already scheduled that overdue checkup or planned for necessary treatments, now is the time to take action. The ‘Use It or Lose It’ policy in dental insurance means that if you don’t use your benefits by December 31st, you lose them.

But with a little planning, you can make the most of what you’ve paid for—and potentially save hundreds of dollars. Here’s why you should act now.

Understand Your Benefits Before They Expire

Dental insurance typically comes with an annual maximum—a set amount the insurance will pay for services over the course of the year. Once that year is over, the benefits reset. This means that if you have unused benefits left, they are essentially forfeited.

Whether you’re due for a routine checkup, need a filling, or have larger procedures on the horizon, understanding what’s left in your benefits is the first step to ensuring you don’t leave money on the table.

Why it matters?

By using up your benefits before the year ends, you’re ensuring that the premiums you’ve already paid go toward covering necessary treatments rather than disappearing when the calendar flips to January.

Tackle Minor Treatments Before They Become Major

If you’ve been putting off a small filling, gum treatment, or other minor procedures, now is the perfect time to tackle them. Waiting until next year to address these issues means you’ll likely face higher out-of-pocket costs for treatment, especially if your benefits reset and you’ll have to meet a new deductible.

What to do now?

Look at any small dental issues you’ve been avoiding and schedule them while your benefits are still available. Whether it’s a filling, a minor repair, or scaling to address early gum disease, addressing these issues now prevents them from developing into larger—and more expensive—problems.

Use Your Benefits for Major Treatments

If you’ve been postponing more extensive dental treatments, like crowns, bridges, or root canals, now is the perfect time to start.

How to make it work?

Check with our dentist to maximize both your current and upcoming benefits, reducing the financial burden all at once.

Orthodontic Treatments: A Sneaky Opportunity To Save Big Bills Later

Orthodontic treatments like braces or aligners can be costly, and dental insurance plans provide coverage for these procedures. If you or your child has been waiting to start orthodontics, scheduling a consultation with our dentist before the year ends can utilize your remaining benefits for the initial steps of treatment.

You can then continue treatment into the next year with a fresh benefit period to cover additional costs.

What to do now?

Don’t let this opportunity slip by! Book an orthodontic consultation before the year ends, and discuss how to break down the treatment into phases to maximize your benefits.

The Cost of Waiting: What Happens If You Don’t Use It?

The consequences of not using your dental insurance before the year resets can be steep. If you leave your benefits unused, you’re essentially paying premiums without reaping the full rewards. On top of that, some treatments might cost more next year due to inflation or price increases. 

Worst of all, you may find yourself waiting longer to schedule procedures, as dental offices may be more booked during the New Year’s rush.

What can you do?

Use your remaining benefits wisely by scheduling all necessary visits now so you don’t waste money you’ve already invested in your dental care. Waiting could end up costing you more, both financially and in terms of your health.

Don’t Let Your Dental Benefits Disappear!

The ‘Use It or Lose It’ policy in dental insurance is a real, ticking clock. You’ve already paid for your benefits through your premiums, so why not make sure you get the most out of them before they expire?

Whether it’s preventive care, minor treatments, or major procedures, now is the time to take action and schedule your dental appointments.

Don’t let another year go by without making the most of what’s already yours. Schedule your dental visits at Dr. C Orthodontics today and give yourself one less thing to worry about as 2024 comes to a close.