Use It or Lose It: Columbus Dental Practice Reminds Patients About Deductibles and Maximums Expire at End of Year
Columbus, Ohio (PRWEB) October 09, 2014 -- With three months to go, 2014 will quickly come to a close. For many, this is the time of year to book that appointment that has been pushed back due to a busy schedule and some healthy procrastination. The holidays are fast approaching. Why not take care of dental work before Thanksgiving and show off that beautiful smile?
Importantly, now is the time to take care of that deductible and make good use of the savings earned once it has been met. Benefit periods commonly run between January and December each year of coverage and then all coverage is reset so that costs return to out-of-pocket expenses.
Powell Ohio dentist Jerry Cheung, Bright Smile Dental, works with patients throughout the coverage period to design dental care plans that will work for them financially. However, the dentist notes that all-too-often, patients who don’t follow up with the prescribed treatments within the same year lose out significantly on the benefits of their dental insurance coverage. While basic teeth cleanings and x-rays are covered, patients must also consider that they can save significantly on procedures such as periodontics, endontics, and oral surgery.
Dr. Cheung comments, “We have a number of clients who come in early on in the year, get their cleaning, get an exam, and then forget to actually schedule the follow up appointments for fillings, crowns, bridges, etc. If you've got the coverage, and you've already spent some of the out-of-pocket expenses, make sure you get the treatments. These treatments can easily help patients meet their dental deductibles and capitalize on the coverage they have been paying for all year.”
Flexible spending accounts (FSA) will also expire at year’s end. FSAs are established through employers and allow employees to save pre-tax money into a separate account. This money can be used for dental and orthodontic work. The key is to use it because the balance starts over in the following year.
Dental insurers and dentists can quickly help patients address which services have been applied towards a deductible and how much of a procedure will be covered at 100% thereafter. Family dentists will often work with patients to formulate a strategy that that works with dental coverage plans and time frames. Dentists will often take into consideration the size of the deductible, annual maximums, and copays.
Dr. Cheung adds, “Ultimately, if you don’t take care of your dental issues now and put them off until next year, you could end up paying more because further damage can be done. With the holidays fast approaching, I advise all of my patients to book an appointment now before we get even busier!”
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About Bright Smile Dental
Led by Dr. Jerry Cheung, Bright Smile Dental serves patients throughout the Powell, Dublin, and Columbus, Ohio areas. Dr. Cheung and his team provide comfort-focused dental services to children, adults, and seniors seeking quality treatment at a family practice. Bright Smile Dental is located at 10214 Sawmill Parkway, Powell, OH 43065.
For more information, visit http://www.brightsmilepowell.com or call 614-799-9140.
Dr. Cheung, Bright Smile Dental, http://www.brightsmilepowell.com/, +1 6147999140, [email protected]
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