Dental Visits Are More Affordable Than You Think
One of the major reasons that people put off or do not visit the dentist’s office, is affordability. While there are other reasons that may or may not come in to play include things like dentophobia or lack of awareness of oral hygiene, that one tends to be the main focus for adults. While children are more terrified of dental drills, and braces, adult walk-ins get a double dose of fear from the visit and the bill. However, like all things else in life, if you know what you are up against, then you are less likely to be afraid of dealing with it.
There are multiple ways for dentists to work with you when it comes to medical costs. And it is not just dentists who are willing to participate. In fact, there are a plethora of ways where you can save money so that dental visits become more affordable for you and your family. So, let’s look at the ways that you can decrease the chances of a dental visit being too expensive to handle.
In-House Dental Savings Plans
Not everyone has dental insurance. In fact, there are a lot of dentists in Austin, Texas who are keenly aware of it. This is thanks to the varying state by state policies regarding what should be covered by medicare, and what should not. Some states, including Texas, only covers emergency services. There are even states today that refuse to let state insurance cover any dental services at all.
So, that means if a public dentist wants to work with someone with no dental insurance, they are going to have to get a little creative on their own. Hence the in-house dental plans. In house, dental plans are a great way that not only helps customers save money. They can also help dentists in Austin, Texas gain and retain repeat patients for dental cleanings and persuade new customers to make an appointment.
And dentists in Austin, Texas are in favor of this type of plan. It increases their profit by not having to deal with a third party. Also, it can create predictable revenue from them if the process is handled down to a science.
Dental Visits can be Tax Deductable
If you can’t find leniency with the dental office, Uncle Sam can get you covered. Just like student loans and acts of charity, a visit to the dentist’s office is tax-deductible. In fact, a good chunk of dental expenses is tax-deductible. The only thing disqualified is a purely cosmetic procedure, according to H&R Block.
“Claiming dental expenses is an allowable deduction on your tax return. You can claim dental expenses on your taxes if you incurred fees for the prevention and alleviation of dental disease. This includes:
- Services of a dental hygienist or dentist for teeth cleaning
- Application of sealants and fluoride treatments to prevent tooth decay
- X-rays
- Fillings
- Braces
- Extractions
- Dentures
- Other dental ailments”
So if you keep track of those expenses in the long run, there is no telling how you can do it all.
However, you need to be careful about how you list and deduct it. Sometimes, it is not deductible, depending on how much of the expenses you paid for are, relative to your income and filing status. Thankfully, the IRS does have applications that can help answer questions about what is deductible and what isn’t.
Paying in Cash
More often than not, the process of getting partial payment from insurance companies is a pain for dental offices. Because insurance companies quickly question what is a necessity and what is a tacked-on expense. Sometimes to the point of absurdity.
There is also a loss in profit when someone uses their credit card to pay for the bill, thanks to transaction fees and the required internet connection to run the transaction.
Cash, however, requires none of those things and cuts through all that hassle. So, dentists are more likely than not willing to offer a discount if you are willing to pay cash. The cash not only saves them time and a headache that can be wasted on dealing with insurance companies, but it also bypasses transaction fees. So, consider cutting a deal by paying in cash.