Insurance is a complex issue for patients and practices alike. Due to the number of plans, contract variations, predetermination procedures, and patient questions, dental insurance can use up a great deal of administrative time in a practice. However, insurance is part of the landscape of dentistry. The better a practice handles insurance issues with its patients, the more trust patients will have in the practice.
Offer to help with patient concerns about insurance. Educate all current and new patients about their insurance and key insurance stipulations. Because patients are concerned with out-of-pocket expenses, your office might discuss such topics as maximum allowable benefits, percentage of coverage for varying services, predetermination factors, filing of insurance, co-payments, and covered and noncovered services.
Don't leave patients to figure things out on their own. Dental insurance coverage is a source of anxiety for many people. By distancing themselves from the issue and pushing patients to talk to their insurance company instead, practices lose a valuable opportunity to build trust with patients. Don't ignore insurance and wait to clean up the messes later.
