Dental benefits left this year? How to use your dental insurance before it resets in January?

Most dental insurance plans run on the calendar year. On January 1 your annual maximum resets, your deductible starts over, and any benefits you did not use are usually gone. If you have treatment planned, the last weeks of the year are often the best time to finish it.

Quick answer: Check how much of your annual maximum is left, schedule your second cleaning and any planned treatment before your plan resets, and use leftover FSA money before its deadline. Unused dental benefits generally do not roll over.

What resets, and when?

• Annual maximum: the most your plan pays in a year. It resets with the plan year, and unused amounts usually do not carry over.
• Deductible: starts again with the new plan year.
• Preventive visits: many plans cover two cleanings and exams per year; a visit you skip does not carry forward.
• FSA balance: generally use-it-or-lose-it, with any grace period or carryover set by your employer.

Some employer plans use a plan year that does not start in January. Your benefit summary shows the date.

How can you use your benefits before they reset?

1. Book your second cleaning and exam. Preventive care is usually covered at a high level and often does not count much toward your maximum.
2. Finish planned treatment. Fillings or crowns you have been putting off cost less out of pocket while this year’s maximum still has room.
3. Split larger treatment across two years. Starting before the reset and finishing after can let you use two annual maximums.
4. Start orthodontics. If your plan covers Invisalign or braces, starting now begins your installments sooner.
5. Use your FSA. Dental care, including orthodontics, is generally an eligible expense (IRS Publication 502). See our guide to using an HSA or FSA for Invisalign.

Ready for year-end? A quick checklist

1. Find your plan year end date and how much of your annual maximum is left.
2. Check whether you have met this year’s deductible.
3. List any treatment your dentist has recommended but you have not scheduled.
4. Check your FSA balance and its deadline, including any grace period.
5. Book appointments early: December schedules fill quickly.

What happens to orthodontic benefits at the year-end reset?

Orthodontic coverage works differently from your annual maximum: it usually has a separate lifetime orthodontic maximum that does not reset each year, and it is paid in installments during treatment. Even so, starting treatment sooner starts those installments sooner, and if a dependent is close to the plan’s orthodontic age limit, timing matters. Our insurer guides explain how each plan handles it.

How much do you have left?

Your insurer’s member site shows how much of your annual maximum you have used: myCigna, the Delta Dental member portal, MetLife MyBenefits, myUHC, or Aetna’s member site. Or call us at 214-387-8400: as an in-network office for all five plans, we can check it for you. See the PPO plans we accept.

End-of-year appointments fill up quickly, so it pays to book early.

• Does Cigna cover Invisalign? · Cigna PPO at Coit Dental
• Does Delta Dental cover Invisalign? · Delta Dental PPO at Coit Dental
• Does MetLife cover Invisalign? · MetLife PPO at Coit Dental
• Does UnitedHealthcare cover Invisalign? · UnitedHealthcare PPO at Coit Dental
• Does Aetna cover Invisalign? · Aetna PPO at Coit Dental

Frequently asked questions

When do dental insurance benefits reset?

Most plans reset on January 1. Some employer plans run on a different plan year, which is listed in your benefit summary.

Does unused dental insurance roll over?

Usually not. Unused annual maximums do not carry into the next year, although a few plans have a rollover feature. Check your plan.

Do I still need to pay my deductible again in January?

Yes, deductibles normally reset with the plan year, which is one reason to finish planned treatment before it ends.

Can I split treatment across two plan years?

Often, yes. Starting treatment before the reset and finishing after can let you use two years of benefits. Your dentist can help plan it.

What if I have FSA money left?

FSA funds are generally use-it-or-lose-it. Cleanings, fillings, crowns, implant placement, and orthodontic treatment are common ways to use them before the deadline.

General information only. Coverage and account rules vary by plan and employer; your plan documents and account administrator have the final word.