How to Maximize Your Children’s Dental Insurance Coverage

If you’re a parent with dental insurance, chances are that your child’s dental care is also covered under that plan. However, because kids have different oral health needs from adults, you might not be fully aware of how children’s dental insurance coverage works. Regardless of a patient’s age, one thing that most dental insurance plans have in common is that they reset at the start of a new calendar year. If you haven’t used all of your child’s benefits by December 31^st, the leftover coverage disappears! To help you avoid wasting money, it’s crucial to take advantage of your little one’s dental insurance benefits. Read on as a pediatric dentist tells you how!

Why Now Is the Perfect Time to Start

The vast majority of dental insurance plans have a limit – called an annual maximum – on the amount of money they’ll put toward a patient’s dental care each year. Any benefits that are unused at the year’s end expire and do NOT get added to the next year’s annual maximum. Since fewer than three percent of Americans ever come close to exceeding their annual maximum, this means that millions of dollars in dental coverage disappear every time the clock strikes midnight on December 31^st.

If you want to prevent this from happening to you, you’ll have to take a proactive approach to your kids’ dental care.

How to Make the Most of Your Children’s Dental Insurance Coverage

Here are a few easy ways that you can maximize the children’s dental benefits that you’re paying for:

• Schedule another checkup and cleaning before December 31^st – Most insurance plans include two checkups and cleanings per year at no extra cost. If you aren’t taking your kids to the dentist at least twice a year, then you aren’t coming close to taking full advantage of your family’s insurance benefits. These routine visits can help your little ones avoid the need for more invasive procedures later on that cost more out-of-pocket.
• Complete any other necessary treatments this year – The more extensive a dental treatment is, the less insurance coverage it will likely qualify for. If your son or daughter has a minor issue that needs fixing, like a cavity, it’s more affordable to get it taken care of with a filling as soon as possible. Waiting too long may cause the cavity to worsen to the point where it needs more expensive treatments, like pulp therapy.
• Avoid having to pay your deductible again – Every year, you have a pay a small amount out-of-pocket until you can access your benefits. This fee, called a deductible, resets each year. If you wait to schedule your child’s needed dental treatment until next year, you’ll have to pay your deductible all over again before you can start saving.

Dental insurance can be confusing, especially if you have kids. However, if you take the right steps, you can make the most of their benefits to not only save money, but ensure their smiles stay healthy well into the new year!

About the Author

Dr. Allen Pearson is a Board-certified pediatric dentist in Wylie, TX with almost 20 years of experience helping young ones enjoy healthy, bright smiles. At Wylie Children’s Dentistry, Dr. Pearson is an in-network provider for many leading dental insurance companies, including Delta Dental, Aetna, and BlueCross BlueShield. To find out how you can save on the care your child’s smile needs, contact Dr. Pearson at 972-429-7070.