The primary goal of our dental practice is to provide the highest quality oral health care in the most gentle, efficient and enthusiastic manner. Since our practice is also a business with obligations that must be met, we ask that all patients pay for their treatment in full on the day of each visit to our office unless prior arrangements have been made.
We will do our best to give you an estimate of your investment in your dental health for each upcoming visit, based on your individual treatment plan. You will be given our best estimate of your next visit’s total bill. Please bring cash, debit or credit card at the time of treatment. With a proper diagnosis and a timely treatment plan, most estimates we provide are very close to your insurance projected portion.
Outstanding balances on your account are discouraged and must be cleared before the next appointment for any account member or within 30 days of treatment, whichever comes first. Appointments for non-emergency treatment may need to be postponed pending payment of outstanding balances. Amounts due and not paid in full within 30 days will be charged a late fee of 10% per month each month the balance is not paid for in full.
Delinquent balances over 90 days will be referred to our Collection Agency of choice. All referred accounts are marked “Inactive”. To have your account “Reactivated”, and continue to receive dental treatment in our office, the delinquent balance must be cleared. Only after this total account balance has been paid in full can appointments be made, and your account and patient status be reactivated. Reactivation fess may apply.
A returned check fee of $35.00 (subject to change as bank fees increase) will be added to your account for any returned check. Before we accept another payment by check, the $35.00 fee plus full payment for the check that did not clear must be paid in cash or with a major credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express.)
Your dental appointments are scheduled carefully. Time, trained personnel and dental equipment are reserved for each procedure. Missed appointments add to the cost of dental care when reserved facilities are left waiting empty. We request 24 hours’ notice for rescheduling your appointment. Your account will be charged a missed appointment fee of $66.00 for repeatedly missed appointments without proper notification. The first missed appointment fee is waived as a courtesy, as we understand that last minute emergencies do arise.
You need to bring your insurance card, and photo ID to your first visit, and at any time your insurance changes.
You need to be aware that:
We always do our best to help you maximize your benefits.
Although we file claims for you as a courtesy, your dental insurance policy is a contract between you, your employer and your insurance company. We file all insurance.
Your treatment plan is individually tailored and is not based on your dental insurance or lack of benefits.
Not all services are covered by all contracts. Some insurance companies arbitrarily select certain services they will not cover. It is your responsibility to thoroughly understand the coverage and exceptions of your policy. Coverage issues can only be addressed by your employer or group plan administrator. We cannot act as a mediator with the carrier or your employer. In addition, insurance may determine hat services are non-covered, disallowed, not the least expensive option, or cosmetic, etc. In these cases, the cost of services may or may not be billed to the insurance carrier and is at the discretion of the practice. All costs associated with services provided are the responsibility of the patient and/or account guarantor.
Our team is trained to help you with questions you may have relating to how your claim was filed or regarding and additional information your carrier may need to process your claim. Please ask if you have any questions.
As a courtesy to all our insured patients, we will file your dental insurance claim forms. Your company’s benefit check can be sent to our office directly. You are responsible at the time of treatment for payment to us of any applicable deductible and for your co-insurance portion (co-pay). Any payments made directly to you by your insurance company on unpaid balances should be forwarded immediately to our office so that your account may be credited accordingly. The insurance company will disclose to our team if the payment was issued to you. A finance charge of 10% per month can be avoided if your personal financial responsibility is clear within 30 days of your treatment, thereby eliminating the need for statements to be generated and mailed to you. Payment can be submitted online, via phone, or via mail.
Your claim will be filed immediately, and benefits are expected to be paid within 30 days. The filing of an insurance claim does not relieve you of timely payment on your account. If the claim is not cleared by your carrier in 45 days, the unpaid portion will automatically become “self-pay” and a statement will be issued to you for the unpaid portion. You are responsible for any amounts your insurance company chooses not to pay, for whatever reason. Any amounts expected to be paid by your insurance company, but not cleared by them within 45 days become your responsibility and, if not paid in a timely fashion, will begin to accumulate interest in the form of a 10% per month. Please feel free to contact your insurance company regarding unpaid benefits. We will gladly provide you with a letter which would include all pertinent information which you may sign and mail.
