Insurance

Do You Participate with my Dental Insurance?

We are what some insurance companies might refer to as a “non-participating or out-of-network provider.” The only insurance we directly participate with is Mashantucket Pequot Benefits Plan.

You can still be a patient in our practice and utilize your insurance benefits, in most cases, but you may have an out-of-pocket expense. Or, you may not even realize a fiscal difference between coming to our office or seeing an in-network provider. The question really is, does your dental benefit plan let you go to the dentist of your choosing, or do you have to choose from a list of dentists that are contracted with the plan? Please call our office and we will be happy to research your particular insurance benefits for you.

We will submit to any dental insurance company on your behalf. We handle the processing of all claims for you. Your dental benefit company will pay what is covered for the services provided to you, and you pay any estimated copayments at the time of service. It is your responsibility to pay any balance not paid by your insurance company.

Dental Benefits – What You Need to Know

We know dental insurance can be complicated and confusing. Dental insurance was designed to be a benefit that would help offset the cost of receiving routine dental care and to help you with the cost if you encountered a dental problem. Unlike medical insurance, most dental plans are not intended to protect individuals from large dental expenses. Patients still need to pay for many treatments out of pocket. Not to mention that annual plan maximums haven’t increased much, or at all, since the 1960s. The costs associated with providing dental care and dental fees have risen significantly since the 1960s, so $1200.00 worth of dental benefits then is not the same as $1200.00 of dental benefits 60 years later!

Many dental practices have and continue to move away from “participating” in dental insurance plans, especially since the pandemic. Smaller dental offices, like ours, that focus on high quality patient care often choose to not become a participating provider. Patients can be offered all treatment options available to them, and not just the treatments that are chosen to be covered by their insurance carriers. Dental insurance companies have set fees for specific procedures which further limits the quality of care provided to patients in a smaller office. In-network offices require heavy patient loads to make profits in their practices. Having to see many patients can result in rushed care for you, the patient. We always want you to have the best care, to know all of your treatment options, and not be rushed through your visits so we can assist you in making the decision that works best for you.

Of course, if you have no dental insurance benefits, or a vey limited plan, then we may have a solution for you. Please see our Membership page for more information!