FINANCE/INSURANCE | HOLMES DENTAL ASSOCIATES

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What is the office’s financial policy and do you offer payment plans?

The following is the financial policy of our offices:
•	Payment is due at the time of service. We accept cash, check, MasterCard, Visa and Discover.
•	Balances from previous treatment must be paid before any additional treatment is performed.
•	Overdue accounts will be assessed a 2.0% monthly interest charge.
•	For patients who need an extended payment plan, we facilitate financing through an outside financing company. A credit application must be completed and approved. Finance charges will apply.
•	Patients with insurance - Every effort is made to accurately estimate your insurance benefits, but it is important to remember that it is an estimate only. Patients are responsible for all costs not paid by their insurance. Dental insurance is a contract between the insurance company and the patient, not the dentist. Holmes Dental Associates does not participate or accept assignment of benefits in Preferred Provider Insurance plans.
•	Help keep our costs and thus our fees down by not missing appointments. Patients who "no show" an appointment or cancel with less than 24 hours notice may be required to pay the treatment fee before scheduling their next appointment.

I have dental insurance, why must I still pay?

Dental insurance is not meant to cover 100% of your dental costs. It is only meant to aid in covering the cost of your necessary dental treatment. Your dental plan is a contract between the employer and the insurance company, not the dentist. Your employer buys a contract at a specified premium and includes as many or as few benefits for which they are willing to pay. As a service to you, we will file your dental claims at no extra charge.

What does "usual and customary fee" mean?

Many insurance companies will inform their customers that a dentist’s fees are above the “usual and customary” fee. These are fees set by the insurance company in their own best interest and have nothing to do with the quality of treatment you receive. The higher the premium your employer pays for the insurance, the more benefits you will receive and the higher their “usual and customary fee” schedule will be. Insurance companies are rarely current on the latest technology and most advanced methods of treatment. Procedures considered routine and the standard of care by many qualified professionals are many times not normally covered by some insurance. Fortunately for you we do not provide just “average” treatment with outdated technology. Often we are able to submit a written explanation with your claim and obtain coverage for a previously denied treatment. Extraordinary efforts are made to aid our patients in maximizing the benefits they have not only paid for but deserve. Holmes Dental Associates has an exceptionally well-trained staff, uses only the highest quality materials available and is associated with top dental laboratories so that we can provide for our patients the best care possible.

Why isn’t Holmes Dental Associates on my list of Preferred Providers?

We do not participate in prefered provider plans because it is our opinion that it is not possible for us to provide superior treatment under the restrictions of managed care. Managed care policies dictate what type of treatment you can receive, when you can receive it and who can provide it. Many times decisions are based primarily on the lowest cost to the insurance company and not what is best for the patient. Quality, longevity, state-of-the-art technology and most importantly a doctor’s skill, training and experience are not taken into consideration when they set their fee schedules. Most often the difference in fees when selecting an “out of network” provider is minimal. We are confident that any difference in your benefits will be outweighed by the peace of mind you will have in knowing you have selected a dental office you can trust to provide you with the highest quality of treatment. We are proud that a growing number of families have remained loyal to our practice despite their insurance company’s involvement in managed care.

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