It's the Year You Use Your Benefits Wisely

*Updated January 2022

It’s natural at the start of a new year to set resolutions to change bad habits or improve our health. Small talk at the office is peppered with questions about how that New Year’s resolution is coming along. Unfortunately, most New Year’s resolutions fail in the first six weeks. Instead of an impractical resolution, why not commit to fully reviewing and using your benefits?

Now’s the time to discover everything your benefits package has to offer, schedule annual appointments, and determine how to maximize your investment. And with our user-friendly online member portal, doing so has never been easier. Take control of your dental experience and access your claims, ID card, settings, and more when it’s convenient for you. Take control on your computer or mobile device, whichever you prefer. A wise use of your benefits is less a resolution and more of a commitment to your oral and overall health!

It’s easier than you think to get started on this pledge. Here are a few tips to kick off living wisely in the new year:

1. Gather all your health benefit information in one place – physical or virtual – for easy access. We’ve collected your dental benefits information online in your personalized member portal. Easily review your explanation of benefits and see how Delta Dental covers your care. Email ID cards to your dentist’s office or to family members on your plan right from your mobile device. New to the portal? Click here to register.
2. Set aside 15 minutes each day for one to two weeks to review your medical and dental plans. Look for any new details or changes. Make a list of all the questions that you have. Log in to your online member account (in the top right corner) to securely message or chat for answers. You can also review your online dashboards to see if you or anyone on your plan is overdue for a cleaning or other service. Browse our blog, Facebook, or Twitter to learn how oral health impacts your lives every day.
3. Schedule an annual physical exam with your family physician. Your physician should run a few blood tests to manage your overall health.
4. Call your optometrist and schedule your vision exam. Determine, if necessary, if you are eligible to order contacts or glasses this year. Remember that regular eye exams can detect small changes to eye health and give the optometrist a chance to investigate potential issues. Log in to your DeltaVision online member account to find a vision provider near you. Don’t have vision benefits? Click here.
5. Schedule your annual dental exams. Regular preventive exams with your dentist can identify more than 120 different diseases in other parts of the body including the brain, lungs, heart, kidneys, and more. That’s in addition to early oral health issues your dentist can detect like cavities or gum disease. Find a dentist in your area, and use our handy cost estimator tool to avoid feeling uncertain about your dental expenses!
6. Schedule required diagnostic tests like mammograms, colonoscopies, gynecological exams, and other specialties now.

Getting answers and scheduling exams takes effort, but these actions will pay off with early detection of illness or, better yet, the peace of mind that everything is fine. Make this year the year you resolve to understand and use your health benefits wisely!