What is Matuszak and Associates DDS PC's Financial Policy?
Payment is expected at the time dental treatment is rendered unless other arrangements have been made in advance. Ask for details about other options if needed.
What are my payment options?
- Cash
- Check
- Credit Card
(Visa/Master Card/Discover) - Structured Payment Plan through CareCredit (For those patients that prefer to make monthly payments, we’ve made arrangements with a financing company to finance your dental treatment with approved credit. This allows you to complete your dental treatment without delay and make small monthly payments. Apply Now! )
Will my dental benefit's cover everything?
Benefit Issues:
If you have dental benefits, you are very fortunate. Here are some important things you should know...
• Your dental benefits are based upon a contract made between your employer and the insurance company. We are not a party to that contract. If you have any questions regarding your dental benefits please contact your employer’s human resource department or insurance company directly. We will, as a courtesy, assist you in filling out and submitting your insurance claim for dental treatment.
• When patients have insurance, and benefits have been assigned to our office, there are cases that we have underestimated the amount that the insurance company is going to pay. This results in a balance due. Insurance companies always notify patients of the payment before releasing the payment to the provider. This eliminates fraud. You will be billed for any remaining amounts due, and we ask that you remit payment upon receipt of this notice. A 1.5% finance charge will be added to any accounts 90 days overdue. Billing is expensive and involves staff time.
• Dental benefits differ greatly from medical benefits. In the early 1970’s most dental plans had a yearly maximum of $1,000.00. This benefit maximum, had it kept up with the cost of living over the last 20 years, would be approximately $3,5000.00 - $4000.00 in today’s economy. Dental insurance rarely pays for the completion of your dental care. It is only meant to assist you.
Some insurance companies do NOT cover many routine and newer dental services.
What is the Cancelation Policy?
There are many times that our patients require urgent or emergency treatment and therefore require an appointment as soon as possible. When patients give our office advance notice of their need to cancel a scheduled appointment, this time can be allocated to these patients in urgent need of treatment. We appreciate a 48-hour notice in the event that you must change your appointment time. In this way, our office can best serve the needs of ALL patients.
What is Usual, Customary and Reasonable Fee (UCR) ?
Usual, Customary and Reasonable Fee (UCR)
Many people receive notification from their insurance company that dental fees are "above usual and customary". An insurance company sometimes determines their reimbursement level by surveying a geographical area, calculating the average fee, then determines that 80% of the average fee to be customary. Included in this survey are discount dental clinics and managed care facilities, which have severely reduced dental fees that bring down the average. Each insurance company has their own formula to calculate different UCR’s. Most doctors in private practice will have fees that insurance companies define as "higher than usual and customary."