You could be throwing away thousands of dollars in dental care. If you have commercial dental insurance, a Flexible Spending Account (FSA), or a Health Savings Account (HSA), time is running out.

Most dental benefits will not roll over to next year. On December 31, any unused benefits vanish forever.

This is because the vast majority of dental insurance policies operate on a calendar-year renewal schedule. This means your dental insurance plan gives you a fresh set of benefits each January 1. However, it also means any leftover value from the current year completely disappears too.

Using your benefits before they reset can potentially save you hundreds on your pending dental work.

That is because your plan resets to zero on New Year's Eve, two critical things happen:

#1: Your Annual Maximum Resets.

Most plans offer $1,000 to $2,000 in dental coverage per year. If you only used $300 for cleanings this year, the remaining $700+ will not carry forward. Instead, it will be permanently lost.

#2: Your Deductible Resets.

Your annual deductible is the amount you must pay out-of-pocket before your insurance even kicks in. If you have already met your deductible this year, right now is the cheapest possible time to get care. On January 1, when your deductible resets, you will have to pay your out-of-pocket fee all over again.

Do You Have Pending Dental Treatments?

If our team has already diagnosed you with pending treatments, you should handle them before the end of the year deadline.

For fillings and general dental care: Schedule these appointments today. Our year end schedule does fill up fast; and most general or basic dental procedures rarely exceed annual maximums. In fact, you can usually get them fully or heavily covered using a current year's remaining balance.

Crowns, root canals, and deep cleanings: These are larger dental procedures and do tend to use up a larger portion of your annual maximum. It is important to book them now to maximize this year's insurance payout rather than draining the funds the dental insurance companies expect to last you throughout next year.

Consider a split-year strategy for major work: If you need extensive care (like multiple crowns, implants, or more complex restorative treatments), ask us to help you develop a split-year schedule. We can often perform the first phase of treatment in the current year, to using your current benefits, then complete the second phase in January using next year's benefits. When scheduled correctly, this strategy can dramatically slash your out-of-pocket costs.

Orthodontics: Orthodontic benefits often feature a lifetime maximum rather than an annual one. However, it is important to keep in mind the way your dental insurer spaces out its payments could mean delaying treatment in ways that can disrupt your coverage structure, especially if you expect your plan to change next year.

Remember, aside from simply leaving money that is rightfully yours on the table, leaving dental issues untreated will always cost more down the road. Even a small cavity left alone today can turn into a painful root canal or crown next year.

Navigating FSA vs. HSA Accounts

If your dental care is tied to a tax-advantaged healthcare account, you also need to know the specific rules for your type of account.

FSA - Flexible Spending Account

Many people assume FSA stands for Flexible Savings Account. However, it is not a savings account, it is a Flexible Spending Account. These accounts are “Use It or Lose It”. FSAs generally require you to spend all of your saved funds by Dec 31. If you have an FSA, make your appointments to spend it now. Use your FSA debit card to pay for exams, fillings, crowns, or orthodontic copays before December 31 to avoid forfeiting any money left in your account at the start of the new year.

HSA - Health Savings Account

Unlike an FSA, an HSA’s funds do roll-over. HSA money belongs to you forever and never expires, even if you change jobs. If you have an HSA, you are not forced to spend it. However, you can use it to strategize. Using your HSA funds for pending dental needs right now, especially in conjunction with your remaining dental insurance benefits, is a smart way to clear up oral health issues using pre-tax dollars.

Don't Wait—Our December Calendar Does Fill Up Quickly

The end of the year is our absolute busiest season, as hundreds of patients, just like you, are trying to squeeze in appointments to utilize their remaining insurance allowances.

Give your office a call or book your appointment online today.

Let’s check your remaining insurance balance and design a treatment plan that protects your smile—and your benefits—before time runs out!