Maximizing Your Insurance

The number of people who have dental insurance plans with flex spending accounts seems to only go up every year. For families and people who need flexibility in their coverage, these plans can be a great way to afford dental coverage yet still get a great discount. Figuring out how to take full advantage of these programs can be a challenge, however.

Flexible spending accounts are designed to allow policy holders to contribute a set amount each month, then use the funds in the account for a variety of dentist office-related expenses ranging from co-pays to elective procedures. While the money is in the account, it earns interest, but in many cases the funds have to be used by the end of the year. That means that many people who underestimate their dental expenses for the year have extra money in their accounts. If this sounds like you, try these options for using up the funds instead of watching them go to waste.

• Make sure you're up-to-date on preventative care. If you haven't scheduled a cleaning in a while, take care of it now. That goes for anyone else on your plan, too.
• Take care of any small problems. Everyone tends to put off filling a small cavity, but if you have extra money, you need to take care of it before the year ends. If you don't have enough funds in the account to cover a major procedure, talk to your dentist about starting the treatment by the end of the year so that you can use up your funds, then make payments at subsequent appointments over the next several months.
• Brighten your smile . Consider taking some of the extra money and getting your teeth professionally whitened or straightened. Even if you have just a small amount of money, you can improve your appearance and self-confidence.
• Start on a long-term dental plan. If you know that your kids need braces or that you will need an expensive procedure in the near future, ask your dentist about starting on it now. X-rays, measurements, and other procedures can be done now with the money you have, then the rest of the procedure can be scheduled for after the new year starts.

Call our Mentor dental practice today and let us help you maximize your insurance benefits.