Benefit Period

Dental benefits are normally calculated within a benefit period. This is generally a one-year period and can sometimes be a calendar year. Anyone with dental insurance is allowed a capped rate of discounts per benefit period. The insurance plan can state how much is allowed per benefit period. It can also limit the amount of treatments allowed per benefit period. These limitations can increase every benefit period depending on the policies of the insurance company.

Benefit periods can allow for dental rewards. Dental rewards are used by insurance companies to promote their services and to encourage clients to renew their insurance plans when the annual coverage has run out. For example a certain amount of coverage is allocated to each benefit period. If no claims are made during a benefit period, then a small amount of the allocated coverage can be carried over to the next benefit period. If only a portion of the annual maximum benefit allowed is used by the client, then this can also allow for a carry over to the next benefit period. The annual maximum benefit can also increase per benefit period as a reward for loyalty to the insurance company.

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