Authored by Angela
Every day, sometimes multiple times a day, I am asked the question, “Do you take my insurance?” This is one of the most challenging questions that I’ve ever had to answer because there isn’t a short, simple answer.
I cannot answer this question without first stating that dental insurance is very confusing. I usually answer this question by explaining to patients that we file insurance claims on behalf of our patients as a courtesy, however we are not in network with any insurance companies. At this point in the conversation the person I am speaking to usually has a few follow up questions, which I will address below:
What does in-network/out-of-network mean?
In-network means that the dental office has a contract with the insurance company where our fees have been negotiated to a significantly lower rate. This means that our office fees are often reduced up to 50%. Major insurance companies are notorious for not being willing to negotiate fair fees with providers. Out-of-network means that our rates are not cut by the insurance company.
For example if our office fee is $100 and we are in an insurance network, the insurance company may say that due to our in-network contract we are only allowed to collect $50 for that procedure.
Why is New Castle Dental choosing to be out of network will all insurance companies?
Our staff spends an extraordinary amount of time and resources fighting to insure that we are paid for the services rendered by the insurance companies. We believe in the care that we are providing and we often spend hours fighting for that coverage with dental insurance companies when we would prefer to spend that time with you, the patient, and providing you with a higher level of care. Therefore, being contracted with insurance companies does not allow us to pay well-trained providers or to pay for our quality lab and material fees. Eliminating write offs allows us to slow down and spend more time with you!
Can I still use my insurance?
Yes, we will still file an insurance claim on your behalf. We will collect payment up front in full, file the insurance claim for you, and then your insurance company will reimburse you directly.
Will I have to pay more at your office than if I choose to go to an in-network provider’s office?
When you see an out of network provider you and/or your insurance company will be paying for the full cost of your dental care; there are no insurance write-offs. Your exact patient payment depends on your individual plan and what type of treatment you need. For many patients receiving preventative care only (healthy mouth cleanings and exams), there will be no difference or a small copay only. You can call your insurance carrier and ask what your copay would be for an out-of-network provider.
What if I am still confused and still have questions?
Call us! We understand that understanding and dealing with dental insurance can be extremely confusing. We will do our very best to answer your questions 🙂