How money is left unused in my dental insurance plan?


We get this question frequently from patients, especially come November and December. Often they don't have much left or worse, they ask us when we don't have free time to schedule additional appointments. Obviously for patients who want to get the most from their dental benefits, it's best asked in September or October.

The good news is that it's New Years Eve and most patients start a new calendar year for their insurance benefits tomorrow. They will have a clean slate, at least as far as their insurance company is concerned.

When we see our patients in the fall for their cleanings, when we make a treatment plan, we tend to check what's left on their years insurance and if their cupboard is bare and the work can wait, we plan on performing it at the beginning of the New Year.

This is good for them and it's good for us. In New York, we often get serious cold spells in January and February and it can be like "pulling teeth" to get patients to come in, especially in January, right after the holidays. The holidays are a time for gift giving and many patients can start the New Year tapped out financially.

we try to send out a fresh round of pre-certifications the last week in December. Our patients seem to appreciate our efforts and we benefit as well and this helps remind them of dental work that still needs to be done in the New Year and allows them to see how much help they will get from their insurer.

from Ask Dr. Spindel - http://lspindelnycdds.blogspot.com/2017/12/is-there-any-money-left-unused-in-my.html - http://lspindelnycdds.blogspot.com/

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