Be proactive with patients about dental insurance
The complexities and restrictions of dental insurance pose significant challenges for dental practices. Your patients, however, will look to you for guidance and assistance in dealing with their insurance plans. Helping them can be an important element in the customer service you provide and will help strengthen the practice-patient relationship.
Educate patients about their coverage. Help them understand maximum allowable benefits, percentage of coverage for various services, predetermination, filing of claims, co-payments, and covered versus noncovered services. If your practice enables them to get the most out of their insurance with the least out-of-pocket spending, their loyalty will be strengthened.
Don't allow negative consequences. Prevent patients from being blind-sided by unexpected co-pays or rejection of treatment. And establish systems to pressure insurance companies to pay the practice in a timely fashion.
