You have a lot to think about as the calendar year winds to a close. You may be making lists for holiday shopping, jotting down next year’s vacation plans, or getting your home ready to face winter weather. What you might not be thinking about is taking advantage of your dental benefits. A healthy smile doesn’t have to cost a fortune, and it can be especially affordable if you use your insurance, FSA, or HSA to pay for necessary care. How can you get the most out of your benefits? Your dentist in Hamden is here to offer a few tips.
Use Insurance Before It Expires
Most insurance operates on a yearly basis. You have an allotted amount to spend each year, and when January 1 rolls around, everything starts fresh. That means that any benefits that you haven’t used by December 31 disappear.
If you’ve already used some of your benefits this year, you can benefit even more if you head into your dentist before the end of December. After all, if your deductible is already paid, you may be able to get dental care for free or almost free. If you wait, you’ll have to start all over with your deductible.
Use FSA Funds Before They Expire
An FSA, otherwise known as a flexible spending account, works similarly to insurance in that what you don’t use by the end of the year, you lose. Some FSAs give you a grace period, so you may have those funds at your disposal until Mid-March, but be sure to double-check to make sure your FSA offers that. Other FSAs let you keep $500 or so of what you don’t spend, but again, you shouldn’t take that for granted.
The best strategy is to put the money to good use before the end of the year. Whether you just want to go in for a routine cleaning or you need more extensive dental work done, now is the time to make an appointment with your dentist in Hamden.
Take Advantage of Your HSA
An HSA is a health spending account. You can set aside pre-tax dollars to use later for health-related expenses, including dental work. The nice thing about HSAs is that the funds don’t expire; you can continue to accumulate money in your account year after year, even if you switch jobs or retire.
Still, if you haven’t been to a dentist in a while, using your HSA funds now to give your pearly whites the TLC they deserve is a great idea. Your smile can be fresh and clean for upcoming holiday festivities!
Just because a healthy mouth is priceless doesn’t mean you don’t have to think about how to pay for dental care. Take advantage of your insurance, FSA, or HSA before the year ends so your teeth and gums stay healthy and functional.
About Our Practice
Drs. Ronald D’Andrea, Robert Pantera, and Jennifer Jung comprise your team of talented, friendly dentists in Hamden. They provide comprehensive dental services and are happy to see new patients. If you’re looking for ways to take advantage of your dental benefits before the end of the year, contact our office at 203-288-0951.
