It’s not fun to check your mail and find an outstanding bill you weren’t expecting from your dentist. Surprise dental bills can be troublesome to your wallet – potentially costing you thousands of dollars. Outstanding charges can happen for a lot of reasons, but you can prevent them with a few simple tips!

Prevention

• Make sure your dentist is in-network: One of the most common causes for dental bill confusion is when you see a provider who is out-of-network on your dental plan. Whether you have a DHMO plan or a DPPO plan, having work done by an out-of-network will almost always cost you more out-of-pocket. Make sure to verify with your dentist that their office is in-network or doublecheck your insurance carrier’s provider directory before your appointment.
•  Communicate with your dentist: You should always be clear on what procedures your dentist is going to perform – and what they cost before they get to work. When your dentist tells you that you need work done, make sure to ask questions if you don’t understand the procedure. And don’t be afraid to ask what that costs and if your insurance covers that procedure. It can be hard to communicate with your dentist when you are in the dental chair – especially if you have anxiety about going to the dentist. But the best way to alleviate confusion about your bill, and your overall oral health, is to talk with your dentist and ask questions.
• Check your Benefits: Even if you’ve verified your dentist is in network, communicated with your dentist the cost of your procedure, and made sure it was covered by your insurance, mix-ups can still happen. Knowing what your plan covers is the best way to prevent an unexpected bill. To learn more about what dental insurance typically covers, you can check out our blog on the subject here. But to be sure of exactly what your plan covers, you should check your schedule of benefits. The schedule of benefits lists out every procedure your plan covers and the coverage amount. You can normally find it on your insurance carrier’s website or mobile app!

Dealing with Surprise Bills

But no matter how proactive you are, you could still get a bill you weren’t expecting. If it happens, here are some tips for dealing with a surprise dental bill:

• Don’t let it sit there: Not dealing with your bill is the biggest mistake people make when they get a surprise bill. When you wait to deal with a bill, you risk the bill being sent to a collection agency, which can be detrimental to your credit. And if there was a mistake on the part of the provider or your insurance carrier, putting off dealing with it can make it harder for them to identify the error. So, don’t procrastinate!
• Contact your provider: Make sure to call your provider when you receive an unexpected bill. It is possible you received a copy of the bill they sent to your insurance, or that you received a bill by mistake. If not, the office can explain exactly what the bill is for and how much you owe.
• Contact your insurance company: If you determine the bill wasn’t a mistake, but you think the procedure is covered by your insurance plan, call your insurance company to verify that the procedure isn’t covered. And if your dentist filed a claim and it was denied, your insurance company can explain why.
• Communicate with your Dentist: When it comes down to it, your dentist wants to help you. If you receive an unexpected bill that you are struggling to pay – talk to the office. They will likely work with you to set up a payment plan, or maybe you can negotiate a discount on the procedure to help out!

These are a few ways you can take charge of your oral health finances and prevent unexpected dental charges. But surprise bills aren’t the only thing to keep in mind when it comes to dental costs - having the right plan for you and your family can save you big over time! If you’re trying to figure out what type of plan is right for you, check out our dental plan quiz below!