We accept dental insurance plans
in Bryn Mawr

You likely know how important it is to visit your local Bryn Mawr dentist. However, few people go to the dentist as often as they should. The question is, why? There are a few reasons, but one of the most common is the expense of it all.

If you don't have dental insurance, affording the dentist on a regular basis isn't easy. When you do have insurance, finding a dental office that accepts or works with your provider can be challenging too.

Is it possible to find a "dentist near me who accepts my insurance?" While it may sound like a difficult task, it's not as hard as you may think. That's because you have already discovered a dental office that works with many dental insurers. In fact, we are proud that working so closely with insurance companies means that we can provide treatment to more people.

Of course, there's more that you should know about dental insurance. Keep reading to learn about what dental insurance is, what you should know about it and how to find a dentist who accepts your policy.

Getting the 411 on Dental Insurance

Before you can find a dentist who accepts dental insurance, you need to understand dental insurance. Basically, dental policies work much like regular health policies. The biggest difference is that dental insurance typically isn't included in health insurance plans. As a result, you have to buy it separately, or you might get it through your employer.

As the name implies, dental insurance only helps cover the cost of dental issues. The specifics of how much depend heavily on the dental plan you have. Typically, it won't cover the entire cost of the dental services you need. It will, however, make it much more affordable.

How Do You Find a Dentist That Takes Insurance?

Believe it or not, it can be hard to find a dental office that accepts your insurance. That's because not all dental offices work with all dental insurance providers. Oftentimes, your dental insurance will only cover you going to dental offices within network. Thankfully, you can find a dentist in Bryn Mawr by insurance network because your insurer will have a list of the dental offices in your area that are covered.

If you find yourself needing to known how to use my dental insurance with a dentist, you have two options. You can call your dental insurer or the dental office that you plan to visit. In both cases, the staff should be able to answer any questions that you might have about using your dental insurance at the dental office.

Things You Should Know About Your Insurance

"Which dentist takes my insurance?" This is just one key part of getting affordable dental care services. There's more to dental insurance than just finding a dental office that accepts your policy. Taking time to learn about your dental policy can help you avoid any surprises the next time you go to the dentist's office.

For starters, make sure that you know your deductible limits. This is the amount of money you have to pay before the benefits of your dental policy kick in. If you have a high deductible, you will have to cover most, if not all, of your first dental visit. Typically, plans with lower deductibles cost more monthly, but you have to pay less out of pocket during your dental visits.

Also, you should know your copay, which is what you will have to pay out of pocket every time you visit your dentist. You still have to pay this copay even after meeting your deductible. Knowing your copay can prevent any unexpected expenses when going to the dentist.

The Difference Between HMO and PPO Dental Insurance Plans

When talking about dental insurance plans, it's helpful to know the difference between a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) and a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) policy. Both have pros and cons.

Most of the time, it's easier to find a dentist that accepts PPO insurance because this type of policy gives you a lot more flexibility when it comes to choosing which dentist you want to visit. The drawback is that a PPO plan is typically more expensive.

On the other hand, you will have fewer options when finding a dentist that accepts HMO insurance because you must visit a dentist within the provider's network. The benefit is that HMO plans are typically cheaper.

We Make Finding a Dentist Easy

If you need a "dentist near me who accepts my insurance," you are in luck! We make finding a dentist easy because we work closely with a number of insurance providers to ensure that we can help as many people as possible.

Give us a call today if you need to find a dentist in Bryn Mawr by insurance and make an appointment. Our staff will be happy to help you out.

We work with numerous insurance plans and are happy to assist you by verifying your coverage. Bryn Mawr Dental Associates does not participate in Health Management Organizations; however, we will be happy to file your insurance claims for you. We accept checks, cash or credit cards. We also offer a flexible payment plan. Please see our Financial Coordinator for details. We are happy to file insurance for your reimbursement as long as you have a plan that allows you to choose your own dentist.

Many of our patients are covered by a dental insurance plan. This serves as a valuable way to help pay for the cost of dental care. It is important to understand that services are rendered to the patient, not the insurance company. Thus, the insurance company is responsible to the patient, and the patient is ultimately responsible to the doctor for payment.

Facts About Dental Insurance You Should Know

1. Most insurance companies utilize an "alternative treatment option" provision. This allows them to pay for a cheaper procedure in full legal satisfaction of their benefit obligation to you rather than reimburse you for the finest quality treatment recommendation.

2. You may receive a letter from your insurance company stating that dental fees charged are higher than reasonable and customary. To establish their usual and customary fee schedule, the insurance company surveys a geographic area, and uses an average fee that includes discount clinic fees and HMO's within the area. For some reason insurance companies will not reveal how they arrive at these fees nor do they make these fee schedules public and available to anyone.

3. Some insurance companies tell their insurers that "fees are above the usual and customary" rather than saying "our benefits are low" or "below average." The amount your plan pays is actually determined by how much your employer paid for the contract with the insurance company. The less your employer paid in premiums the lower the amount of benefits you will receive. Remember, you get back only what your employer and you paid in, less the insurance company profits.

4. Dental insurance is never meant to be a pay-all; but rather to be an aid.

5. Many insurance companies state that patients are covered for 80% to 100% of their dental expenses. They do not explain that percentage payment is based on a fee schedule that often is not published or given to anyone outside the insurance company. They also do not take into account deductibles, exclusions, alternate treatment options or other limitations.

6.  Many accepted and routine services are NOT covered by insurance carriers even if these procedures would save the insurance company money over the years. (i.e. adult sealant and/or fluoride treatments, more frequent care (hygiene) visits, higher quality and longer lasting restorations.)

7. Insurance contracts are actually made between the patient and the insurance company - not the dentist and the insurance company. It is therefore often beneficial for the patient to contact the employer or carrier if a question or dispute arises. Our staff wants to help you receive the maximum benefit you are entitled to receive under your contract. We want you to feel comfortable in dealing with these matters and know that we are there to help you receive these benefits.

Insurances We Accept

• Assurant/Sunlife
• United Concordia Elite
• Unum