Great care is our top priority. We thank you for choosing us as your dental healthcare provider. At our practice, we believe that you deserve the best care and a clear understanding of your financial responsibilities to achieve that care. Dental treatment is an excellent investment in an individual’s medical and psychological well-being. Our goal is to keep the lines of communication open regarding our financial policy.
Payment
Full payment is due on the day of your treatment. As a courtesy, we will provide you with an insurance claim form you can submit to your insurance for them to reimburse you. To pay for your treatment, we accept several forms of payment, including:
- Cash
- Check
- MasterCard
- Visa
Fees: There will be a $30.00 handling fee for any returned check.
Insurance
Your dental insurance is based on a contract between you, your employer, and the insurance company. Dental benefits vary from plan to plan. Insurance companies set their own schedules, and each company uses a different set of fees, which they consider allowable. It is important that you understand all of your plan’s specific benefits.
We are an “out-of-network” provider. We want you to understand that we work for you, not the insurance company. Because we believe our responsibility is to our patients directly, we do not participate in any PPO (preferred provider organization) or HMOs where a third party determines the doctor-patient relationship. Our fees are the same, regardless of whether a patient has insurance.
As a courtesy to you, we can submit a preauthorization form to your insurance company before extensive procedures that will let you know how much they will cover. Also, to expedite your reimbursement of benefits, we will provide you with a detailed claim form for you to submit to your insurance company at the time of service.
Insurance FAQs
Will my insurance pay all of my dental costs?
Many patients assume their insurance will pay 90%-100% of all their dental fees. The percentage paid is usually determined by how much you or your employer has paid for coverage and the type of contract your employer has set up with the insurance company. Sometimes your dental insurer reimburses you (or the dentist) at a lower rate than the dentist’s actual fee. Frequently, insurance companies state that the reimbursement was reduced because your dentist’s fee has exceeded the usual, customary, or reasonable fee (UCR) used by the company.
A statement such as this gives the impression that any fee greater than the amount paid by the insurance company is unreasonable or well above what most dentists in the area charge for a certain service. This can be very misleading and simply is not accurate. Insurance companies set their own schedules, and each company uses a different set of fees they consider “allowable”.
What is the difference between an “in-network” and an “out-of-network” provider?
An in-network dentist has contracted with the dental insurance company to provide services to plan members for specific pre-negotiated rates. An out-of-network dentist has not contracted with the insurance company. Many insurance companies provide a level of benefits for out-of-network providers. You should contact your insurance company and ask about your out-of-network benefits.
Does this mean that your office is more expensive than someone “in-network”?
It depends. Some insurance plans pay the same benefits for services from in-network and out-of-network providers. Dentists in multiple dental insurance networks agree to accept a lower fee for their services to be a “participating provider.”
This could cause dentists to see a higher volume of patients and consequently spend less time with them, potentially impacting the quality of care. Our mission is to be insurance-aware but not insurance-driven to provide our patients with the highest level of care.
For specific questions about insurance, see our frequently asked questions page or call our office at 919.295.0936.