Understanding Your Dental Insurance
Please bring your most up-to-date insurance information with you to each visit so we can keep your records current - if possible, please update your insurance information via phone call prior to your child’s appointment. Once we have your insurance details, our team will gladly file your claim for you!
It’s important to keep in mind that most insurance plans do not cover every procedure in full. After your insurance has processed the claim, any remaining balance will be your responsibility. Insurance companies are typically required to pay their portion within 30 days of your child’s appointment. If a balance remains after that time, we’ll send you a statement for the difference.
As a courtesy, we file insurance claims on your behalf; however, we cannot guarantee payment from your insurance provider. We’ll always do our best to help you understand your coverage and estimate what your plan may pay. If you believe your insurance company made an error, we encourage you to contact them directly to resolve the issue.
A Few Facts About Dental Insurance
We want you to feel confident about your dental care and understand how your insurance benefits work. While dental insurance can help lower out-of-pocket costs, it usually doesn’t cover every procedure in full. Here’s a quick overview of how most plans work:
1. Insurance does not always fully cover dental procedures.
Most dental insurance plans cover a portion of your treatment (typically between 50% and 80%) depending on the type of plan you or your employer selected. Insurance is meant to help with costs, but it’s not designed to cover every expense completely.
2. Coverage amounts are set by your insurance provider.
Each insurance company determines its own “allowable” fees (sometimes called UCR fees: usual, customary, and reasonable). These fee schedules can differ from what’s actually charged for care and are sometimes based on outdated or regional data. This can make it seem like our fees are higher, when in reality, the insurance company’s limits may simply be lower than current standards.
3. Deductibles and co-pays still apply.
Most dental plans include a deductible (often around $50) and may require a co-payment. After the deductible is applied, your insurance will pay a set percentage of the remaining cost. Any remaining balance is your responsibility. To help avoid surprises, we always recommend reviewing your plan details and keeping us informed of any changes to your coverage.