In recent years, there’s been a noticeable shift in how dental practices manage insurance, with some dentists, like the ones in our dental office in Olney, choosing to drop dental insurance plans. This decision may initially seem concerning for patients accustomed to using insurance to offset their dental care costs, but there are some benefits to this that may not be immediately apparent.
Why Some Dentists Stop Participating With Insurance
Most dentists aim to provide the highest quality care to their patients, but sometimes, dental insurance reimbursement rates don’t cover the costs of advanced procedures and materials. This discrepancy leads dentists to have to decide between compromising on what they think is the best course of treatment or reassessing their participation in insurance plans. Dentist like the one ones in our practice have chosen the former, they have decided to become what is known as fee-for-service dentists in order to not compromise the quality of care. Under this framework patients pay for the treatment and insurance – depending on the insurance plan – will reimburse the patient in part or in full. This gives the patients and dentists the freedom to partner together for the best result while ensuring patients don’t break the bank in order to receive premium dental care.
The Benefits of Paying Out of Pocket for Dentistry
- Quality of Care: Without the limitations set by insurance companies, your dentist can use better materials and more advanced technologies, directly influencing the quality of care you receive. This is especially important in instances for cosmetic dentistry where patients want a great looking result but insurance companies are not willing to cover it.
- Personalized Treatment Plans: Freed from insurance constraints, dentists can work more closely with you to develop personalized treatment plans that truly meet your needs rather than fitting within the guidelines of what insurance will cover. This way the patient and dentist partner together to decide the best course of action rather than have the insurance company dictate what should be done.
- Free Dental Consultations: Often dentists recognize the hesitancy that patients may have in working with a fee-for-service dentist so they offer free consultation for cosmetic dentistry patients. Our dentist in Olney offer free consultations so that patients have the opportunity to hear what results they can expect and what treatment would realistically cost.
- Conveniently Located Dentist: By not being restricted to a dentist that participates in your insurance, patients can choose a dentist in a location that is more convenient rather than travel far distances for a dentist that is in-network with their insurance.
- Choosing Your Own Dentist: Insurances will give you a list of dentists that are in-network but sometimes these dentists may not be well-rated online or have a good reputation. By restricting themselves to a predefined list of dentists, patients may be deprived of a dentist they truly love partnering with. For example, our Olney dental practice is highly rated on Google with a 4.9 star rating, as well as being rated highly on other platforms.
Navigating Dental Care Without Insurance:
There are often additional costs involved with going to a dentist that is not in network, however. While these additional costs are not necessarily that high, there are options that make treatment affordable even for patients who don’t have as much financial leeway.
- Maximizing Insurance Coverage: Our dentists will work with patients in order to ensure they get the most benefit out of their insurance plans in order to cover the cost of the treatment. With some insurance plans this means there may be no additional charge for certain procedures.
- Payment Plans: Many dental offices offer payment plans to make out-of-pocket payments more manageable. For example, our dental office in Olney accepts CareCredit so that patients can pay off in installments.
- Dental Savings Plans: Some practices offer their own savings plans, which can provide discounts on services for a yearly fee.
- Understanding Costs: Practices, such as ours, are very transparent about costs and will provide detailed estimates for treatments, helping you make informed decisions about your care.
If you are looking for a dentist near you in Olney and have questions about fee-for-service dentistry, we’re here to help. Reach out to our team to discuss your options and ensure you receive the best possible dental care.