Financial
Fee and payment policy
In an effort to keep costs down while maintaining a high level of professional care, we have established the following payment plans for the use of our patients. Fees may be paid as the following:
- Use of Visa, MasterCard, Discover, Checks and Cash
- Prepayment at the time of service
Our Financial Coordinator will approve extended payments upon special request. All major treatment will require an appropriate down payment.
Insurance
Professional care is provided to you, our patient, and not to an insurance company. Thus, the insurance company is responsible to the patient and the patient is responsible to the doctor. We will help in every way we can in filing your claim and handling the insurance questions from our office on your behalf.
If you have insurance, we will help you to determine the coverage you have available. We ask that you assign your insurance benefits to us. The balance will be arranged for you to pay as listed above.
90 Second Crash Course on Insurance Coverage Issues
(Why Your Insurance Company May Not Cover A Portion of the Dental Fee)
We recognize that dental bills from a dentist office sometimes come as a surprise (or at least an unwelcome reality). We also know that the ‘fine print” of most insurance plans can be confusing, unclear, intimidating and, at times, overwhelming. We offer this information in an attempt to help you avoid insurance coverage and/or non-coverage surprises.
The most common reasons patients become responsible for their dental bills are as follows:
- Deductibles: defined as the portion of the dental bill to be paid out of pocket by the patient each policy year before insurance coverage begins. $25.00 to $150.00 deductibles are common these days.
- Co-Insurance: A percentage of the bill paid by the insurance company, with a corresponding percentage paid by the patient. For example, the terms of the insurance policy could state that the insurance will pay 70% of the total dental costs, leaving the patient responsible for 30%.
- Non-Covered services: Specific aspects of dental care excluded from coverage by the “fine print” of the insurance policy.
What you, as the “consumer,” can do to avoid an unexpected dental bill:
- Clarify coverage issues in advance.
- Read and understand the terms and limitations of your insurance policy/contract.
- Be informed about the confusing insurance coverage issues.
**While the dental team of any dentist’s office may try to answer insurance coverage questions, it is ultimately up to the patient or “consumer” to remain informed as to the specifics of their insurance policy.
***If unsure, you can check the specific terms and limitations of your insurance policy by calling the 800 number on the back of your insurance card, asking your human resources director or checking the insurance benefit packet shared with you by your workplace or school.*** |
