FINANCIAL POLICY of SMILE CARE DENTAL
Thank you for choosing Smile Care Dental for your dental care. We are dedicated to providing you with the best possible dental care and service.
Your complete understanding of your financial responsibilities is essential to excellent dental care and experience.
If you have any questions about our financial policy, please do not hesitate to speak to us about it.
How does Smile Care Dental determine my dental treatment recommendations?
Each person is unique, and everything we recommend is customized to each patient's specific needs, wants and challenges.
Every patient's treatment recommendations are different.
Our treatment recommendation options are based on what is in your best interests. Therefore, we will discuss with you and analyze each option's advantages, disadvantages and costs and accept what you choose.
We understand that the final patient choice often comes down to money, specifically what the insurance will cover.
Payment Options and Dental Insurance: The 2 Options
Payment for treatment is expected the same day the service is provided unless other arrangements have been made. There are two common options regarding dental insurance payments:
1) Non-assignment
The patient pays directly to Smile Care Dental for the services rendered on the day of the appointment.
We submit the insurance claim to your insurance company electronically ( sometimes insurance companies require paper forms to be sent instead.) We instruct the insurance company to pay directly to the patient the amount that corresponds to their insurance policy; this is called non-assignment because the insurance payment is not assigned to the dental office; it is assigned to the patient.
This is the best hassle-free arrangement for the patient and the dental office, as there is nothing else to think about or correspond about concerning insurance coverage.
In the rare event of an issue with the insurance company, we will aid the patient in navigating the issue(s).
2) Assignment
As a courtesy and convenience to our patients, we accept "assignments of benefits" as this is a common patient-requested arrangement.
This is a common option that patients choose because, on the surface, it seems more convenient for the patient. However, it often is not as convenient as the "no-assignment" above. If you request this option please understand that we need your help to make this process as convenient and effortless as possible.
The real benefit for the patient under this option is that on the day of the service rendered, the patient only needs to pay the amount not covered by the insurance company the day the treatment is performed.
As long as we have confirmation that the insurance will pay, Smile Care Dental will wait for the payment directly from the insurance company. Of course, the patient is responsible for paying any amount not covered by the insurance company.
Why is it the patients' responsibility to know their insurance?
It's a common patient misconception that a dental office knows what is covered on a patient's dental insurance policy. The truth is that a dental office has no idea what is and what is not covered! When a patient gives us their insurance information, and we input that into the computer, we do not get any additional information about the policy; it only allows us to submit claims and estimates electronically.
There are thousands of different insurance plans which frequently change. Dental insurance companies do not freely share coverage limitations with dental offices. When they share information, they have a caveat that it can not be relied upon in case mistakes are made during that sharing. There is no way for a dental office to keep track of all that information and be responsible for its accuracy.
Therefore, it's the patient's responsibility to know their dental insurance coverage. After all, it's written into each dental insurance policy that any amounts not paid by the dental insurance policy are the responsibility of the patient to pay directly to the dentist. Dental insurance policy is a contract between you, your employer and the insurance company, it remains the patient's responsibility to know the limitations of your plan and keep track of yearly maximums.
SUMMARY:
- Our policy regarding dental insurance has remained the same since 2001.
- We ALWAYS act in the best interests of your health and well-being.
- Our recommendations are based on what will benefit your health.
- We do not know what your insurance covers and does not cover.
- We are happy to assist you in better understanding your own dental insurance.
- For your convenience, we submit your dental claim to the insurance company on your behalf.
- For your convenience, we accept payment directly from the insurance company; however, any amounts not paid by the insurance company are your responsibility to pay us; payment in full of any patient portion is due the day of service.
- A dental bill needs to be paid in full regardless of insurance coverage.
Please note that the above policy applies to all patients.
Thank you for choosing Smile Care Dental for your dental care. We pride ourselves on developing long-term relationships with our patients based on compassion, integrity, trust, respect, open communication, and excellent dental care and service.
For more detailed information regarding dental insurance and dental bills, please go to the blog on our website: Dental Insurance: The Truth, where we discuss in detail the most common questions about dental insurance, such as:
Will my dental insurance pay for my dental work?
What should I know about my dental insurance?
Why did the dental insurance NOT pay for my treatment?
What can I do to prevent unexpected dental bills?
In the best interest of your health and well-being,