If your dental plan resets at the end of the year, any unused portion of your annual maximum may be lost. Many dental insurance plans follow a calendar year, so the final few months are a good time to check what you have already used and whether you have been putting off any treatment.
Northside Family Dentistry can help you review how your coverage works and what treatment you may want to schedule before your plan resets. Your insurance company can confirm your remaining benefits and coverage, while our team can help you look at any cleanings, fillings, or other recommended care that may still need to be completed this year.
Why Your Dental Benefits Do Not Roll Over
Many dental plans operate on a calendar-year basis, which means annual maximums and other benefits may reset at the start of January. If you still have part of your annual maximum available at the end of December, that amount typically does not carry into the next benefit year. Your deductible may also reset, meaning you could have to meet a new amount before certain coverage applies in the new year. Flexible spending accounts can have year-end deadlines too, although the rules depend on your specific plan.
That can make the last few months of the year a useful time to check where your benefits stand. Cost remains one of the biggest reasons adults skip needed dental care, so you may want to use benefits you’ve already paid for before they reset. If you have treatment you have been putting off, check your remaining coverage with your insurer or ask our office what information we can help you review.
What Counts Toward Your Yearly Maximum?
Your annual maximum may apply to several types of dental care, although how much your plan pays for each service can vary. Checking your benefits before the end of the year can give you a better idea of what coverage you have already used and what may still be available for care such as:
- Cleanings and exams: Preventive visits may be covered separately or at a higher percentage than other types of care, depending on your plan.
- X-rays: Dental imaging may be included as a preventive or diagnostic benefit at certain intervals.
- Fillings: If a cavity needs treatment, part of the cost may count toward your remaining annual benefits.
- Root canal therapy: More involved treatment can use a larger portion of an annual maximum, depending on your coverage.
- Oral surgery: Extractions and other surgical procedures may also be covered under some dental plans.
If you still have benefits available, it may make sense to complete any recommended treatment or catch up on routine cleanings and exams before your benefit year ends. Your insurer can confirm how a specific service is covered and how much of your annual maximum remains.
How Our Technology Helps You Fit It All In
Finding time for dental appointments can get harder as the year ends. Our dental technology, including a 3D CBCT scanner and an in-house 3D printer, lets us do more of the planning and production for certain treatments in our office rather than sending them elsewhere.
That can be especially helpful when you are trying to complete treatment before your benefits reset. Depending on what you need, keeping more steps in one place may reduce time spent at outside labs or additional appointments and make it easier to complete eligible care before the end of the benefit year.
Check Your Remaining Benefits With Northside Family Dentistry
Dr. Andrew Byrne believes dental care should come with honest, straightforward recommendations based on what you actually need. He takes time to explain your options in plain language, including what can wait and what may be worth taking care of sooner. If your family is due for a routine cleaning, has a filling that needs attention, or has questions about treatment you have been putting off, the end of the year can be a good time to get caught up.
Northside Family Dentistry also offers in-house membership plans and flexible payment options for patients without insurance. If you still have dental benefits available this year, now is a good time to see if there is care you would like to complete before they reset. Contact our office to schedule an appointment or ask about treatment you may still have on your calendar.
