336.998.9988

​

We're Here to Help Navigate Your Benefits

 

At Browder & Browder Family Dentistry, we believe that financial concerns shouldn't prevent you from receiving quality dental care. That's why we accept virtually all dental insurance plans and work directly with your insurance company to maximize your benefits.

 

How We Make Insurance Easier for You

​

Assignment of Benefits Available

We're happy to accept assignment of your insurance benefits whenever possible, which means your insurance company pays us directly for covered services. This reduces your out-of-pocket costs at the time of treatment - you'll only pay your estimated portion (deductibles, co-pays, and non-covered services) on the day of your visit.

Please note that some insurance companies only pay benefits directly to the patient. If your plan has this policy, we'll still file all claims on your behalf, but you'll need to pay for services at the time of treatment and then receive reimbursement directly from your insurance company.

​

We Handle the Paperwork

Our experienced billing team takes care of filing your claims and following up with insurance companies, so you don't have to worry about the administrative burden. We'll keep you informed throughout the process and advocate for you when issues arise.

​

Understanding Your Insurance Benefits

​

Every Plan is Different

Insurance benefits are negotiated directly between your employer and the insurance carrier - our office is not involved in these negotiations and has no influence over what your plan covers or pays. This means that coverage varies significantly between employers and plans, even with the same insurance company. Common variables include:

• Annual maximums and deductibles

• Coverage percentages for different procedures

• Frequency limitations (how often certain treatments are covered)

• Waiting periods for major services

• Network restrictions and fee schedules

• Allowable amounts

 

Pre-Treatment Estimates

We always provide treatment estimates and can submit pre-authorization requests for major procedures. However, please note that pre-estimates are not guarantees of payment - final benefits are determined when claims are processed.

​

The Reality of Dental Insurance Today

​

Evaluating Your Dental Insurance

Not all dental insurance plans are created equal. Here's what we've observed:

​

Employer-Sponsored Plans: If your employer offers dental insurance as a benefit and you pay little to nothing for the premium, that's typically excellent value - any coverage is better than none. These group plans often provide reasonable benefits.

Private Individual Plans: Personally purchased dental insurance plans are often expensive with limited benefits. The monthly premiums may exceed what you'd pay out-of-pocket for routine preventive care, making them less cost-effective for many individuals.

Medicare Advantage Plans: Some Medicare plans now include dental coverage. While this is a welcome addition, the quality varies significantly between carriers and plans. We always recommend choosing your Medicare plan based primarily on your medical needs rather than dental benefits, as medical coverage is typically more critical and expensive.

​

Insurance Industry Challenges

We want to be transparent about the current state of dental insurance. In recent years, many insurance companies have implemented practices that can complicate and delay patient care:

• Increasingly restrictive coverage policies

• Frequent claim processing delays and "lost" claims

• Downgrading approved procedures to less expensive materials

• Complex prior authorization requirements

• Reduced fee schedules that haven't kept pace with treatment costs

 

Our Commitment Despite These Challenges

While we can't control insurance company policies, we remain committed to:

• Filing and re-filing claims as needed

• Following up persistently on delayed payments

• Appealing denied claims when appropriate

• Keeping detailed records to support your treatments

• Providing clear explanations of benefits and costs

• Being as transparent as possible about all costs and expectations

 

What We Can and Cannot Guarantee

The one figure we can absolutely guarantee is our fee for treatment. While we may estimate what we believe your insurance will pay based on your benefits and our experience with your carrier, these are educated estimates only. Insurance companies make the final determination of payment, and even our most confident predictions can sometimes be wrong.

Although we're usually exactly or very close to being correct with our insurance estimates, patients should understand that they remain ultimately responsible for their account if insurance pays less than expected or denies coverage entirely.

​

Important Insurance Reminders

​

Insurance is Not Full Coverage
Dental insurance is designed to help with costs, not cover everything. Most plans are essentially "discount programs" with annual maximums that haven't increased significantly in decades, despite rising treatment costs.

​

Treatment Decisions Are Yours
We will always recommend treatment based on your oral health needs, not what insurance will cover. We believe you deserve to know about all your treatment options, and we'll help you understand how to maximize your benefits while achieving optimal oral health.

​

Payment Options Available
For treatments not fully covered by insurance, we offer various payment options including:

• CareCredit financing

• Cash/check discounts where applicable​

 

Questions About Your Coverage?​

 

Our insurance coordinators are knowledgeable about most plans and are happy to:

• Verify your benefits before treatment

• Explain your coverage in plain English

• Help you understand your financial responsibility

• Discuss payment options for any remaining balance

Contact our office at 336-998-9988 to discuss your specific insurance benefits or schedule a consultation.

​

Your Role in the Insurance Process

​

While we handle the filing and follow-up of insurance claims, we need your help to ensure everything goes smoothly:

​

Provide Accurate Insurance Information

• Bring your current dental insurance card to every appointment

• Important: Your health insurance card may not be your dental insurance card - these are often separate plans with different carriers, group numbers, and subscriber information

• Double-check that the insurance information we have on file matches your current card exactly

 

Keep Us Informed of Changes

• Notify us immediately of any changes to your insurance coverage

• If your subscriber number, group number, or insurance carrier changes, we must have the updated information to file claims successfully

• Changes in employment, insurance plans, or family status can all affect your coverage

 

Why This Matters
When insurance information is incorrect or outdated, claims get denied or delayed, which means additional work for our staff and potential out-of-pocket costs for you. Accurate information from the start helps ensure your claims are processed quickly and correctly.

 

Our Honest Assessment of Dental "Insurance"

​

Sometimes it's hard to even believe that companies use the word "insurance" to describe what they are offering. "Weak coupon" is a more accurate description. To think that some companies are still subjecting their customers to materials and practices that have not been taught in dental schools in decades, gives us all the insight we need to know that the insurance company is looking out for the insurance company, not for the patient.

At any time, we are more than happy to not only assess the coverage that you've got, but we can also assess that relative to the premiums that you are paying and additionally we can review anyone's overall oral health to help give them a good idea as to what the likelihood is that they will need any major work done in the near future.

​

Our Bottom Line

​

We know that financial concerns are just one of the many barriers that can come between our patients and the treatment that they need or want. We are happy to work with your insurance and fully agree that every little bit helps. We want you to know that our goal for you is to receive the best information possible so that you can make the decisions that are best for you.

We do not judge our patients for the treatment decisions that they make and stand prepared to assist in whatever way is best for them. We know that insurance can make a difference and assure you that we will work to the bitter end to stand up to these insurance companies when we see them taking advantage of you - and trust me, they are looking for every possibility they can find to keep their dollars in-house and out of your pocket.

 

At Browder & Browder Family Dentistry, your oral health comes first. We're committed to providing excellent dental care while helping you navigate the complexities of dental insurance. Our goal is to make quality dentistry accessible and affordable for you and your family.