Insurance and Payment
Financial agreement
Patients are expected to pay for our services at the time they are rendered, unless prior arrangements have been made through our financial coordinator. Our patients who have dental insurance are expected to pay the amount of their estimated co-pay and deductible at the time of service. Payments may be made using cash, check, ATM card and all major credit cards. We also offer an extended payment plan through CareCredit, which is a financing option that is available only for healthcare expenses. Unpaid balances will be assessed a finance charge of 18% per annum after 90 days.
Insurance information
We are preferred Providers for: Aetna PPO, Assurant PPO, Cigna PPO, Delta Premier PPO, Guardian PPO and the Anthem / Blue Cross Flex plan as well as Wellpoint's Dental PPO 200 and Wellpoint's Dental PPO 300 plans.
We will also gladly submit any traditional indemnity plans for patients with Aetna, Ameritas, Guardian, HealthNet, Metlife, Principal and United Healthcare as well as most other indemnity dental plans.
As a courtesy to our insured patients, we submit claims to your insurance company free of charge. Most dental insurance plans do not cover 100% of the cost of your treatment. If your insurance claim has not been paid within 60 days of treatment you are responsible for payment in full to our office. If your insurance company pays your claim after you have already sent us your payment, we will readily reimburse you.
Please keep in mind that the dental insurance contract is an agreement between the patient and the insurance company; therefore, the patient is responsible for the bill, regardless of the insurance coverage. After 60 days the patient is responsible to pursue payment from the insurance company. All current documentation will be provided by mail in order to assist your inquiries. The insured has a better ability to deal with the insurance company as well as the employer responsible for their policy because the insurance companies will usually accommodate their policy holders with more earnest attention than they will a dental office.
If you are insured
- To help you better understand your dental plan and benefits, read your plan description, be familiar with the coverage and deductible on your insurance plan(s) and call your employer/personnel dept or insurance company regarding any questions you may have.
- Bring your insurance card with you on all your visits, especially at any time your dental insurance changes.
- Determine for yourself what is best for you. Understand that the insurance company may have restrictions on your care and some services may not be covered by your insurance. The doctors make their recommendations based on their knowledge of what is best for your oral health, not on what your benefits will cover.
- Understand that many plans claim you will be 100% covered, when in fact they often only cover approximately 80% of an average fee. Some insurance companies then tell their participants that, "your dentist's fees are above the usual and customary (UCR)", rather than saying, "our benefits are low".
Optional payment terms
- Full Payment Cash Discount: We offer a 5% accounting courtesy for all treatment over $2,000 that is paid in full prior to commencement of treatment.
- Full Payment Credit Discount: We accept full or partial payment by most major credit cards. If you choose to prepay for treatment over $2,000 using your credit card, we can extend a 3% courtesy.
- Extended Payment: By arrangement with CareCredit we can offer our patients, upon approval, an interest-free term loan (up to 18 months) with no down payment, no annual fee and no prepayment penalty. The application is quick and easy, you receive a credit decision almost immediately and you are able to start your recommended treatment immediately.
- Credit Card Options: We can arrange automatic monthly billing to your credit card or a guarantee for any amount not covered by dental insurance with your credit card. We will charge you 1.5% a month (18% annually) for balances that age past 90 days so please remember that you can take the CareCredit Option to receive an interest free loan for up to 18 months.
Other information
- Returned checks are subject to a $25 charge.
- Outstanding balances over 90 days are subject to a finance charge of 1.50% per month; (18% per annum).
- Appointments you miss or short notice cancellations (less than 72 hours) will not incur a fee, but they will also not be tolerated. After any such occurrences but usually after the second or third such incident we will likely dismiss you from the practice. If we do not dismiss you from the practice, we may charge you up to $250.00 per occurrence after the second time you break this policy in any 24 month period.
- Duplication of radiographs. A fee of $25 and a signed release request form are required for duplicating x-rays requested by the patient.
Call a New Haven Dental Group dentist office now for your free dental consultation!