Dental Insurance & Our Patients
We accept direct payments from many insurance companies
We are pleased to accept payments directly from insurance companies on behalf of our patients whenever possible. It is important to note that whether or not we can accept insurance claims directly depends on each patient's unique plan and insurance company. Different plans and companies have different policies as well as coverage limitations, so we can't guarantee that we can accept all insurance claims directly.
Electronic claims get you paid faster
In cases where insurance companies do not offer direct payment options you will have to receive reimbursement for your coverage directly from your insurer. However, because we submit claims electronically, this process more often than not goes very quickly, typically taking only one or two days before the funds are transferred back to you.
We are here to help
We understand that navigating dental insurance can sometimes be confusing and overwhelming, which is why we strive to make the process as easy as possible for our patients. Our team is highly experienced in navigating the complexities of dental insurance, and are here to answer any questions you may have about your coverage or claims process.
It is important to note, however, that due to privacy regulations, we are not always able to receive current and up-to-date information about each patient’s insurance policy, balances and coverage details. Therefore, it is ultimately each patient’s responsibility to provide our office with this information and updates on a regular and frequent basis.
No dentist can waive a patient’s co-payment
Waving a copayment is insurance fraud and it’s against the law. A dentist could be fined and penalized and even risk losing his license for doing this. This is not something our office will even consider.
Prices must be the same for people with and without insurance
We are sometimes asked by people if we can give them discounts because they have no insurance. We are also not legally permitted to do this. All dentists must offer the same fee for the same service to all patients, regardless of their insurance coverage. Having one rate for someone who has insurance and another lower rate for someone who does not, would again, be insurance fraud. While we cannot offer discounts for individuals because they have minimal or no dental insurance coverage at all, we can and often do offer discounts to patients, provided they are applied to all patients, regardless of their level of insurance coverage. For example, we extend a 10% discount to all patients who are 65 or older, and this is applied regardless of whether they have insurance or not.
Dental insurance coverage responsibilities
Dental insurance is an arrangement between a patient and their insurance company. Dental work and the payment for this work is an arrangement between a patient and their dental office. Ultimately, any remaining balance after your dental insurer’s payment – even if it is zero – is your responsibility. While our office is here to assist you to the best of our ability in better understanding your insurance coverage, it is important to note that ultimately, we are not responsible for whether or not you have coverage for all or even some of your dental treatment. Our primary goal as a health provider is to help you achieve and maintain the highest levels of dental health possible, which is not necessarily the primary goal of your insurance company.