Life Hack: Organize Your Dental Insurance

Posted on January 27, 2015 in Insurance

*Updated January 2024

Taking the time to organize dental insurance may not be the most fun activity. However, it’s important to take advantage of your coverage.

Now that a new year of dental coverage has arrived, it’s time to get a head start on this year’s benefits game plan. Set aside 10 minutes of your day to organize your dental insurance and ensure good oral health for the rest of the year. 

How to organize dental insurance 

The hardest part about organizing is getting started. We’ve laid out simple steps that make it easy to get your dental insurance organized.

Make a checklist

Start with the basics — make a list of preventive services you need. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends you visit the dentist twice a year for a cleaning and checkup, however the number may change based on your needs.

If you know you’ll need additional dental work, like fillings or crowns, pencil those procedures in too. If you have pain, that’s a pretty good indicator that you’ll need more than just preventive treatment.

Find a dentist

The next step to organize dental insurance is to find a dentist that accepts your Delta Dental benefits plan.

The Find a Provider tool on our website can help you find a dentist that meets your specific needs, such as a convenient location near your work or your child’s school, having evening and weekend hours, or specializing in treating kids.

Talk to your family, friends, and neighbors for recommendations of good dentists near you. You can also search for online ratings and reviews to help you decide.

Study your coverage

Once you know what procedures you may need and have a dentist in mind, it’s time to familiarize yourself with your dental insurance plan.

Take some time to understand the details of your plan including your deductible, annual maximum, copayments, and more. Review your benefits contract so you know what’s covered!

Questions? Be sure to reach out to our customer service team to have them answered.

Construct a timeline 

You will have a better idea of additional services or treatments you will need after your first dental appointment of the year. Write down any procedures that must be done this year. If you have treatments that may be expensive, consider spreading them out accordingly to accommodate your budget and plan coverage, if you’re able to.

Note: Always listen to the advice of your dentist when it comes to timelines for procedures.

Write it down 

A lot can happen in a year! The No. 1 way to organize dental insurance is to keep track of upcoming appointments in a calendar or your smart device. It’s also a good idea to keep track of any insurance victories or speed bumps. This will keep your mind fresh if you want to adjust your plan come next open enrollment season.

Need more information about dental insurance? Check out, “5 Ways to Manage Dental Benefits in 5 Minutes”.