Insurance and financing
Nobody enjoys this part. We try to make it as boring and predictable as possible, which mostly means telling you the number before you agree to anything.
How we handle insurance
We are in-network with most major carriers and we file claims for you. You do not need to pay the full amount and chase reimbursement yourself. At your first visit we verify your benefits directly with the insurer, which takes us a phone call and saves you the guesswork.
Before any treatment beyond a routine cleaning is scheduled, you get a written estimate showing the full fee, what your plan is expected to cover, and what you will owe. If your insurer later pays differently than they told us, we tell you as soon as we know rather than sending a surprise bill.
Plans we work with
This list covers the carriers we see most often. If yours is not here, call us anyway. Out-of-network does not automatically mean expensive, and many plans reimburse a good portion regardless.
- Delta Dental
- MetLife
- Cigna
- Aetna
- Guardian
- United Concordia
- Excellus BlueCross BlueShield
- Anthem
- Principal
- Ameritas
- GEHA
- NY State Empire Plan
Not sure what you have? Bring the card or call us with the member number and we will look it up before your appointment. (607) 555-0142
If you do not have dental insurance
A large share of our patients do not, and the practice is set up for that rather than treating it as an exception.
The in-house membership plan
For a flat annual fee the plan covers two cleanings, two exams, all routine x-rays and one emergency visit, and applies a twenty percent reduction to any other treatment you need that year. It is not insurance, there is no deductible, no annual maximum and no waiting period, and it starts the day you sign up. For most people who come twice a year it costs less than paying for those visits individually.
Payment plans
Larger treatment can be split into monthly payments through CareCredit, including interest-free options over six and twelve months for those who qualify. Denise can run the application at the front desk in about ten minutes, and knowing whether you are approved changes what options are realistic to discuss.
Paying directly
We take cash, all major cards, and HSA and FSA cards. There is a small discount for paying the full course of treatment up front, because it saves us the administration.
What we will not do
We will not present a treatment plan without the cost attached, and we will not ask you to make a financial decision the same minute you are told you need work done. Take the estimate home. Compare it. Come back with questions. That is a completely reasonable way to handle it and nobody here will think less of you for doing it.
Questions about cost?
Ask before you book. Denise would genuinely rather answer it now than explain a bill later.