The cost of health care continually seems to be rising, and dental care is no exception. At Dental Wellness of Charlotte, we are committed to providing our patients with the highest-quality dental care available while helping to make it as affordable as possible.
Because of our commitment to exceptional dental care, we are a fee-for-service dental practice, which means we collect payment for our services at the time of your procedure. If you have dental insurance, we will collect the full amount for your treatment from you on the day of service, file any claims on your behalf with the pertinent information needed to process the claim, and your insurance company will reimburse you directly for any payments.
The Difference Between In- and Out-of-Network Dental Insurance
Dr. Shirman is not in-network with any dental insurance plans, so your insurance company's contract is with you, not our dental practice. However, this does not mean you can't use your dental benefits at our South Charlotte dental office.
As long as your dental plan allows payment for out-of-network dentists, you'll receive some coverage for any treatment or procedures you have at Dental Wellness of Charlotte, which they will pay directly to you. Note that there may be differences in coverage for an in-network vs. out-of-network dentist with your plan.
Understanding Dental Insurance
Understanding how dental insurance works is essential for making the best decisions about your family's dental care.
Most dental plans run on a calendar year, meaning benefits start on January 1st and end on December 31st. None of your benefit dollars will roll into next year.
With most dental insurance plans, there is a yearly maximum that your plan will pay. Typically, this amount ranges from $1000 to $2000. This means that once you've reached that amount, your dental insurance pays no more. If you need a significant amount of dental work, your insurance will be maximized right away.
It's important to understand that your dental insurance may cover teeth cleanings and checkups fully at 100 percent, but any other type of treatment is only covered at a percentage of the cost, which means there will always be an out-of-pocket expense for you to cover. They will also only cover a percentage of their allowable fee, which may differ from what the dentist charges, leaving you with the remaining balance.
So, for example, if a tooth crown costs $1200 at your dentist in South Charlotte and your insurance pays 50 percent of their allowable fee, which is $700, you will receive a reimbursement for $350 of your crown, leaving you with an out-of-pocket expense of $850.
You may also have a waiting period with your dental insurance, meaning you may not have any coverage when you need it most if a tooth emergency strikes. Some dental plans also have a deductible that must be met before they pay anything, typically $50 to $150, which may apply to each family member.
Think of your dental insurance as a coupon that may cover a small portion of your cost but never all of it in full.
Why Is Dental Wellness of Charlotte Fee-for-Service Only?
By choosing not to be in-network with dental insurance companies, Dr. Shirman is free to offer high-quality dental services that insurance companies may not recognize, such as Bioclear® and treatment for sleep apnea. He can also offer the standard of quality materials he would choose for himself and his family.
Agreeing to the insurance companies' fees means that he would have to compromise the quality of the services and materials he could offer since dental insurance companies don't pay dentists enough to cover those fees.
Dr. Shirman is not willing to compromise his standards of care and the quality of the materials he uses to be in-network with dental insurance companies because he believes his patients deserve the highest standard of dental care.
An Excellent Alternative to Dental Insurance
Many patients realize that their dental insurance does not provide the coverage they need. If this is the case for you, we offer an excellent solution at our Waverly dental office–our Dental Wellness Club.
For one low monthly or yearly fee, patients can join our Dental Wellness Club, which covers their yearly preventive teeth cleanings, checkups, and x-rays completely. Members also receive additional savings on all other dental procedures should they need treatment throughout the year.
Here are some things you do not have to worry about with the Dental Wellness Club that you would with dental insurance:
- Annual maximums
- Yearly deductibles
- Treatment preauthorizations–You can complete the treatment you need the day you sign up for the Dental Wellness Club!
- Waiting periods
The Dental Wellness Plan eliminates guesswork, and you can always receive savings on the treatment you need when you need it most! Contact your team at Dental Wellness of Charlotte at (704) 317-7337 if you have questions about dental insurance, fee-for-service, or our Dental Wellness Club.