One of the biggest concerns people have about going to the dentist is the question, “How will I pay for it?” Well, we understand this and provide our patients with a variety of different payment options.
Dental Insurance
Have dental insurance and wondering if we’ll accept it? We accept a wide range of dental insurance plans and we’ll be more than happy to work with your dental insurance provider to ensure that you receive the dental care you’re entitled to. Even if your provider isn’t listed below most dental plans provide benefits to out of network providers.
We are participating providers with the following dental benefit carriers:
Payment Options
We also accept cash and check.
Some Information About You and Your Dental Insurance.
Dental insurance is a wonderful thing to have. Most plans will ask you to pay a deductible and a co-payment for your treatment. The deductible, usually $50.00, activates your insurance. The co-payment is the part you, the patient, pays after the insurance company has paid their part. We will do everything we can to help you understand your treatment and fee’s due before you get your work done.
Our knowledgeable front office will work to help you navigate the insurance plan you have. In addition when you treatment is completed we will complete and file a claim for you.
As a side note, did you know that when the dental insurance industry started in 1970 they allowed $1000.00 per year in benefits? The vast majority of plans still only provide that amount. With a 6% per year inflation the typical dollar $1000.00 amount would now be equal to about $176.00 a year. If the insurance providers would have been fair you would now have about $5,000.00 a year to spend. Instead you pay more for your premiums and get the same $1000.00 a year.
Insurance Versus a “Dental Plan”
Wondering what the difference is? Unfortunately the patient benefit systems have changed and continue to. We will try to help you understand your plan and how it works.
From traditional insurance to HMO, PPO, DMO it can be a bit overwhelming for the patient. Sometimes what you believe is “good insurance” may not be what you think at all.
Traditional insurance lets you the patient decide who you would like to provide your care. PPO and Capitation plans do not provide these options.
PPO type dental benefit asks the participating dentist to receive 25-50% less than what would be considered the normal fee the dentist would charge. You can still see any dentist you prefer it’s just that the patient has to pay the difference between what your PPO pay’s and what the dentist charges. For example the dentist charges $100.00 for a procedure. You’re PPO will pay 80% of $80.00. That leaves you, the patient, with a $16.00 difference with the PPO and a $20.00 difference with the dentist. The amount that you would owe to the dentist is $36.00 plus a deductible, if you have not met that amount yet. The good news is that most PPO’s will still cover that patient at 100% for their cleanings and x ray’s. Check your plan for they are all different.
Dental HMO and DMO plans are the most challenging for a dental provider to pay for their overhead and then pay themselves. The plans typically pay a low monthly fee each month a provider and then the dentist tries to just collect this monthly premium without seeing any of the patients on the plan. How do they do this? Well they limit the number of patients with that plan that they will see. They have to do this so that they can keep the office in the black. Otherwise the dentist would basically be working for free. Another way is to perform the treatments needed in a poor fashion. A tough place to be in for the patient and dentist.
Want a better plan? The best way for change to happen is to be sure that you speak with your employer about the plan you have and ask for something that will give you the freedom to have access to the dental care you desire.
Have Additional Questions?
Please feel free to contact our office at (513) 896-1573 with regards to your individual situation and/or dental insurance plan.