Please be aware that your insurance may only partially cover services provided and that coverage varies among insurance companies and even among employers. At your initial visit we will confirm your insurance coverage and request payment for deductibles and/or insurance co-payments as necessary. If there are two insurance carriers, we will determine which coverage is primary and which is secondary.

It is your responsibility to notify us of any changes in or termination of your dental insurance coverage.

We know that dental insurance coverages are complex and difficult to understand. We encourage you to discuss questions with our insurance coordinator and are happy to help you receive the maximum benefits; however, since our relationship is with you and not your insurance company, the final responsibility for payment lies with you.

Please note: Because of the difficulty of billing a third party, the parent who brings the child for his/her care will be financially responsible for all treatment costs.

Understanding Your Insurance
We at Dental Associates of Walpole understand that dental insurance can be confusing at times. There are various plans offered by dental insurance carriers and most employers offer some type of plan to their employees. To help you better understand the differences in these plans we have compiled "definitions" of common types of dental insurance.

Standard Indemnity Dental Plan: This type of dental insurance plan usually has no restrictions on which dentist a person can see. Fees are payable at different percentages depending on the type of treatment done. Fees are payable at a level called "usual and customary". This is a fee chosen by an insurance carrier and not a dental practice. Dental insurance carriers do not determine practice fees.

Network Plan, PPO, PDO, DMO: These plans require you to go to a "contracted provider". You are limited in your choice of dental practitioners. Dentists in a network have signed a contract with the insurance carrier accepting their fees. Some of these plans allow you to go outside of their network, BUT will usually make you responsible for higher out of pocket expense or copayment. Dental Associates of Walpole is contracted with the following plans: Delta Dental Premier of Massachusetts, Blue Cross/Blue Shield Dental Blue, and Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare.

Accepting Assignment of Benefits: This does NOT mean that we "accept" your insurance as a contracted dentist. This means that the office will do the courtesy of filing paper work to your carrier and have the payment come directly to the office rather than to you. This saves you the inconvenience of filing claims with your carrier and waiting for payment. If after filing a claim with your insurance we do not receive payment, the balance becomes your responsibility. It is your responsibility to notify us of any changes or termination of insurance coverage.

We know that dental insurance coverage issues are complex and difficult to understand. We encourage you to discuss any questions with our insurance coordinator or your company's Benefits Manager. We want to help you receive maximum benefits. However, it is your responsibility to know your coverage and ultimately, final responsibility for payment lies with you.

Payment Policies
Payment is due when services are rendered. When there are complex or extended treatment plans, payment arrangements can be made with our treatment coordinator. We accept credit cards (American Express, Discover, Visa and MasterCard) ATM and debit cards. A second option is to use our interest-free line of credit.

For orthodontic treatment, payment policies will be discussed at the final consultation.