Using Dental Insurance to Pay for Your Child’s Oral Care

When your child needs braces or an advanced form of dental treatment, it helps to have dental insurance to make such services more affordable. Plenty of plans include coverage for children, but are you getting the absolute most out of your benefits? Knowing how to maximize dental insurance will let you save money while also keeping your child’s smile healthy well into the future. Consider these 4 tips for using your current benefits before the end of the year.

1. Try to Meet the Annual Maximum

Your dental plan will set a certain dollar amount that they are willing to pay for your child’s oral healthcare services during a given year; this amount is known as the annual maximum. When your insurance plan resets, whatever is left of the annual maximum expires, meaning you lose money that could have been put toward one of your child’s treatments. If you have paid your deductible and know that your child will need treatment in the future, schedule their appointment now so that the annual maximum doesn’t go to waste.

2. Start Lengthier Procedures Before the End of the Year

One trick to maximizing dental benefits is to begin procedures that you know will take multiple visits before the end of the year (or whatever point that your insurance resets). This way you can use the benefits currently available to pay for the first part of the treatment; then, once your plan has reset, you can use next year’s benefits to pay for what’s left.

3. Confirm Their Benefits Beforehand

Not all dental plans are the same. Some include orthodontic benefits while others do not. Some treatments for periodontal disease might fall under your plan while others are not covered. And of course, the benefits for children may be different than the benefits for adults. When you’re considering a specific treatment for your child, take the time to call your insurance company and ask for a pre-determination of benefits – in other words, a breakdown of what your policy will help pay for and what your own out-of-pocket costs will be. This way you won’t be caught off guard when the time comes to pay for your child’s treatments.

4. Be Proactive

Putting off any kind of dental care for too long can lead to serious oral health issues. Any existing problems will become more severe and will likely require more expensive treatments. As soon as your child experiences unusual oral pain, or the moment you notice concerning symptoms in their mouth, you should make arrangements to have them seen by an appropriate dental professional right away. Using insurance to pay for care now could ultimately help you save money later.

Do you have any questions about the best way to use insurance benefits to help your child receive specialty care? Get in touch with your local practice today. The team there will be happy to answer your questions and help you put together a plan for your little one.

About the Practice

At EPO Dental Specialists in Richardson, we’re able to provide many different advanced treatments thanks to having an endodontist, periodontist, and orthodontist in-house. We help patients of all ages enjoy optimal oral health, and we’re always ready to help you get the absolute most out of your dental insurance. To schedule an appointment for your child or ask an insurance question, visit our website or call (972) 479-1200.