{"id":429,"date":"2019-10-14T03:23:19","date_gmt":"2019-10-14T03:23:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sanmarcosdental.com\/blog\/?p=429"},"modified":"2020-04-07T19:51:46","modified_gmt":"2020-04-07T19:51:46","slug":"dental-insurance-heres-why-you-need-to-use-yours-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sanmarcosdental.com\/blog\/dental-insurance-heres-why-you-need-to-use-yours-now\/","title":{"rendered":"Dental Insurance \u2013 Here\u2019s Why You Need to Use Yours Now!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Now that we\u2019ve entered the last quarter of the year,\neveryone is in an all-out sprint to wrap-up any unfinished business. In the\nmidst of tying up any loose ends, your dentist in San Marcos says don\u2019t forget\nabout your dental health. You\u2019re encouraged to get in now for a dental visit<\/a>,\nbut why is there such a sense of urgency? As you continue reading, you\u2019ll\ndiscover how to prevent your dental insurance going to waste by taking action\ntoday!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Why It\u2019s Important to Visit Your Dentist <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For most dental insurance plans, coverage renews on January\n1st<\/sup>, 2020. That means any unused benefits will be lost, which\nincludes the previous year\u2019s deductible (normally around $50). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to recent statistics, of the 164 million Americans\nwith dental insurance, only 2.8% of that population will actually maximize\ntheir benefits by the end of the year. To make matters worse, although the\naverage plan provides upwards of $1,250 of coverage annually, the standard\nusage per person is only $323. That leaves nearly $1,000 of coverage lost\nforever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By better understanding how your plan works, though, you can\nget more mileage out of your benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How the Standard Plan is Structured<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The most common type of dental insurance structure is\n100-80-50. It will typically provide 100% coverage for at least one preventive\ncare visit where you\u2019ll receive a cleaning and checkup. Procedures like a\ncavity filling or root canal are usually considered to be basic care, so you\ncan anticipate your benefits to cover up to 80% of the cost. The last tier is\nreserved for major care, which includes the placement of dental crowns, bridges\nand other more complex forms of treatment. You should plan on being responsible\nfor up to 50% of any related costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Normally, with this type of plan, you\u2019ll have a $50\ndeductible before the coverage kicks in. If you\u2019ve received any form of care\nalready this year, then you\u2019ve likely met your deductible already, which is\neven more of a reason to head in now to finalize any unfinished dental work or\nfor a checkup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s About More Than Just Money<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The ultimate goal of maintaining dental insurance is to\nfortify your oral health. One of the best ways to accomplish this is by\nvisiting your dentist for cleanings and checkups. Here are some of the\nadvantages you stand to gain:<\/p>\n\n\n\n