Dental Insurance Explained—It’s time to visit the Dentist

When it is time to schedule your regular visit at Stoneycreek Village Dental, do you automatically start having anxious thoughts about what type of work you might need? Are you worried about whether a typical check-up is dental covered? Perhaps you are a little confused about how dental insurance works. You are not alone in this, and while we can’t answer every question you may have about your specific insurance plan, here is some helpful general information.

Insurance Explained

Dental insurance is a contractual agreement between an employer and an insurance company. The details of the benefits, however, vary widely. There are thousands of plans available in Fort McMurray Alberta today so expect to see dental coverage offer benefits between as little as 10% or as much as 100%.

Patient Responsibility

The responsibility is on you to learn about the nitty-gritty details of your insurance plan before the day of your appointment. Your insurance company can help you with specific questions about expected coverage. Take advantage of this service to ensure you don’t get surprised by any unexpected fees. Co-payments are due at the time of a scheduled visit, and we are legally not permitted to waive that fee. To help make expensive treatments more affordable, you may consider alternative dental care financing.

Stoneycreek Village Dental Responsibility

Our responsibility is to inform you about available treatment options available for your specific condition to keep you in excellent dental health. Unfortunately, your insurance company may have certain limitations and may not cover all, or even part of, the recommended care.

Cooperative Responsibility

We can submit a dental estimate, also called a dental pre-determination, to your Fort McMurry dental insurance provider for the recommended treatment. Due to privacy laws, however, it is important to note that the insurance provider will only share their decision of that request with you. Therefore, it is vital that you review all communication from your provider about additional coverage and bring it with you to your appointment.

Occasionally, insurance companies contact us to request clarity about the recommended treatment. We strive to respond to these requests quickly, but it is ultimately your responsibility to promptly pass that information on to your provider.

When do you pay for your treatment?

Outside of the co-payment, which is always due on the day of your appointment, you must refer to the specifics of your insurance plan to find out what portion you are responsible for and when those payments are due. Some Fort McMurray dental insurance plans have a “non-assignment of benefits” clause requiring patients to pay treatment costs up front. Patients can then request reimbursement of the covered portion later. Other insurance plans allow an assignment of benefits and will bill the patient for the difference afterward. Make sure you check with us, however, to see whether we can accept assignment of benefits for your particular plan.

Multiple insurance plans?

If you have multiple insurance plans, please notify our receptionist when booking your appointment. Claims are always submitted to the primary insurance first, then to the secondary provider. You, as the insured, are responsible for any remaining balance.

If you’d like to book an appointment, you can call (780) 666-7327 or book online.

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