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Philosophy
One
of Dr. Edwards' philosophies is that he believes high quality dental
care actually costs less in the long run. This means he does not
participate in low fee dentistry plans.
Scenario
Some
of you might be like Joe. Joe, two or three years ago, went to a
dentist office that is considered low fee dentistry. Joe thinks
this is great because he can fix his teeth for a low rate. However,
Joe is beginning to have problems with his gums. He also is starting
to feel a lot of discomfort.
Every
day Joe passes Dr. Edwards' office on his way to work. One afternoon,
Joe is hurting so much that he decides to stop and see Dr. Edwards.
Dr. Edwards looks at Joe’s mouth and realizes that two of the crowns
that were done two or three years ago need to be redone. He also
needs a root canal in one of the teeth. The appeal of low fee dentistry
is soon forgotten while the bitterness of poor quality remains.
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Financing
Our
office understands that most people cannot afford extensive dentistry.
Therefore, our office offers payment plans for this treatment. The
payment plan spans a three-month period and includes a 0 percent
interest rate.
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Insurance
Our
office also accepts many different types of dental insurance. Please
call the office at (407) 322-6052 with information regarding your
insurance to make sure we accept your policy. Our office staff can
answer many of your insurance questions. Remember that your insurance
is an agreement of payment between your employer and your insurance
company. Restrictions and limitations sometimes apply with certain
policies. The insurance booklet you receive from that company will
explain any limitations that may apply.
The staff deals everyday with insurance companies regarding filing
claims, pre-authorizations, and claim tracking. We would be happy
to file your dental claims for you, but we appreciate patients paying
their deductible and responsible portion the day of their appointment.
Patients with insurance also need to comprehend that insurance is
a supplement to health care costs and usually will not cover all
expenses. Most patients misunderstand dental insurance. Insurance
companies are in the business of paying less in claims than they
take in on premiums; that is how they make money. The well-being
of our patients is not the primary concern of insurance companies.
Our office will not allow fee reimbursement to dictate the treatment
necessary for our patients.
Patients often wonder, "If an insurance company states that it will
cover 50 percent of the usual and customary fee for a crown, why
do they have to pay more than 50 percent."
The
answer is as follows:
- The
level of quality care you will receive in this office is not usual
and customary. "Usual and customary" fees do not exist. The American
Dental Association sponsored an independent study that stated
fee screens varied significantly among insurance contracts. Furthermore,
patients with the same insurance company are reimbursed differently
within the same insurance company because determination of "usual
and customary" rates differs so greatly.
- Reimbursement
from insurance companies is based upon the least expensive treatment.
For example, cosmetic procedures are more time-consuming and the
materials needed for these procedures are more expensive than
for non-cosmetic procedures, such as fillings or bonding. Insurance
companies do not care about the value-added treatment, and therefore
will not pay as much for them.
- The
higher your premium the more coverage you will receive from your
insurance company. You cannot expect to pay $10 a month for your
dental insurance, but still receive the same amount of coverage
as a patient who pays $25 a month.
If
you have any further questions regarding financing or insurance,
our office staff will be pleased to assist you.
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