Frequently Asked Questions
“Am I still able to come to your practice?”
Absolutely! We have simply changed our provider status with Delta Dental. We have many patients with your benefit plan or other benefit plans who come to us for care. Dr. Mallakis has never been a contracted provider with Delta and has been seeing Delta patients for years.
“Oh no. You are not taking my insurance anymore?”
We still accept Delta Dental and will have changed our status as of January 1st, 2024, to non-contracted provider. We will continue to submit your claims for you. However, now your insurance payment will go directly to you. You should receive a check from Delta Dental within approximately 3 weeks from the time of your service.
To fully understand your specific dental plan’s benefits and reimbursements, we encourage you to reach out to your employer’s human resources department for details. We are here to help you in any capacity we can.
“How will this affect my out-of-pocket costs?”
It is hard to say how this will affect you personally as there are several different Delta Dental plans, and each plan offers different benefits and limitations based on your employer’s choice. We have in the past seen some Delta plans to pay patients the UCR fees (our regular non-contracted fees) when an out of network provider has delivered your care.
“Will I pay in full at each appointment?”
We always ask and appreciate payment at the time of service. For interested patients, we offer payment plans and 3rd party interest free financing. As always, we continue to accept Flexible Spending/Health Savings accounts.
“Should I keep paying for dental insurance?”
The truth is “dental insurance” isn’t actually insurance, and should be considered more like a maintenance plan. Most dental benefits plans cover up to 1500 per year and will not pay for treatment beyond that amount. This is exactly the opposite of how medical insurance works. Typically, with medical or car insurance you have a deductible or maximum out of pocket cost. With dental insurance, the insurance companies have a maximum they pay and leave you to pay for the rest, even in an emergency. As an alternative option, we offer an in house dental plan. Please visit our website to see details and see if this is the right choice for you.
https://www.ltsmiles.com/dental-membership/
“Is there anything else I need to know?”
Your health and wellbeing come first. Decisions about your health should be between you and your healthcare provider. Delta Dental has made it nearly impossible for us to work with them. We have made the decision not to sign insurance contracts that limit the amount of time we can spend with our patients or limit our use of high-quality labs and materials. More and more high-quality dental offices are making the same decision. It is our sincere hope that we have the honor of continuing to care for you for years to come.
Please know that this was a difficult decision, as we realize this will directly affect many of you, some who have been with our practice for many years. We want to give you the courtesy of having this information during this time of insurance open enrollment.
We value our personal and professional relationship with you. Although we are changing the way we work with Delta Dental, we want you to know there are no restrictions in your contract with Delta Dental that would prevent you from continuing to receive care at our office. We have included a list of common questions that we hope you will find helpful. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to our practice.
Sincerely,
Your team at Lifetime Smiles