Dental Costs at Virginia H. Ellis, DDS Dental Corp.
Hello, this is Dr. Virginia H. Ellis here from Virginia H. Ellis, DDS Dental Corp.. Today, I'm going to talk about dental costs, clarifying what dental prices are and the challenges people might face in dental practices.
Why does the cost of some procedures vary in dental practices?
This question is asking why a filling is more expensive in one place and cheaper in another dental practice. It really involves several factors, one of them being the location. If you are getting dental services in a higher cost of living area like San Francisco, New York, or Los Angeles, it's obviously going to be more than if you were living in, say, West Virginia, Alabama, Tennessee, or Texas. Another factor is the experience of the dentist and the type of services you're looking for.
If you're looking for a dental practice where you say, "I just want the cheapest. I don't care about the dental experience. I just want this done," then you would go to a cheaper doctor. However, if you're someone who values your teeth and wants a better experience, you would likely choose higher prices, which often offer a better experience, more personalized care, less waiting, and more experienced doctors. If you want more experienced care, you'll have to pay for it. You're paying for the experience and the quality of the care that you're getting.
Can my dental practice Virginia H. Ellis, DDS Dental Corp. help me understand my insurance?
Yes. When you come in as a new patient, we run the insurance benefits if you have dental insurance. This usually takes about 45 minutes to get all the information, and then we can tell you what your insurance covers. We help you maximize your dental benefits. So yes, the answer is yes. We will help you maximize your benefits from your dental insurance when you come in, and we do a complimentary benefits check, which takes anywhere between 45 minutes to an hour, depending on how busy the insurance company is.
If my insurance will not cover the full cost of my dental care, are financing options available?
Yes, we have financing options available, such as a health credit card like Care Credit. You do need to have credit to apply. They allow you to pay in monthly installments without charging interest. However, if you miss a payment, the price will increase significantly, similar to a regular credit card.
Another option is an HSA account, which is a health savings account, and there's also a flexible spending account, FSA. HSA allows you to save money every month and use it to pay for extra expenses tax-free. If you don't use it, you can carry it over to the next year. However, an FSA does not allow you to roll it over to the next year; you have to use it or lose it. That's important to remember. FSA does not allow you to carry over to the next year, but HSA does. That's really important.
Does Virginia H. Ellis, DDS Dental Corp. offer discount payments for paying upfront in cash?
Yes, we do. Some practices offer this, and I'm one of those practices that offers a professional courtesy. If you don't have insurance and want to pay upfront with cash or check, I extend a 5% discount. It doesn't sound like a lot, but it is because in dentistry, the overhead is really high. People don't realize that not everything we charge goes to the doctor. There is a huge overhead, and that 5% discount is really helpful. Every penny in the bucket counts, right?
Learn More About Dental Insurance
If you live in or near Orinda, CA, and are looking for dental care, contact us at (925) 272-2698 to set an appointment. Our staff would love to talk with you!