We will be happy to assist you in obtaining the maximum benefit from your insurance carrier. But here are some facts about dental insurance that you might be unaware of.

Dental insurance is a wonderful aid, but it not what it once was. In 1954 insurance companies offered $1,000.00 per year coverage and 50 years later it has not changed much. In terms of inflation, it is now 1/6 th of the benefit it was to patients in the 1950's.

Dental insurance differs from medical insurance in that it helps people with minor problems and is of little help for people with major problems. To the insurance companies this is to minimize claims and maximize revenue. To help our patients, we try to phase treatment over time if it can be delayed. Additionally, insurance companies mysteriously lose 25% of all major claims submitted. Some insurance companies are more ethical than others, depending on their profitability.

They use language to make you believe your dentist is more than the average dentist by quoting “UCR” (usual and customary rates), when the reality is that the UCR number that insurance companies quote has nothing to do with current dental fees in your area. They are a number that an accountant established for the companies projected profitability.

These and other deceptive practices have lead to the American Dental Association (ADA) suing two major insurance companies, Aetna and Blue Cross Blue Shield. It has taken 50 years because it is a very expensive process to go up against the wealthy insurance companies in the court room.