Insurance
Dr. Julie Fattore is a Delta Dental Premier provider. We accept most other dental insurances as a non-contracted dentist and will gladly file claims on your behalf.
Why go non-contracted?
Every day, we get phone calls asking the same thing, "are you in network?". We answer with the same thing every time, "we are not in-network but we work with all insurances". This most often catches people off guard because they do not actually understand how PPO plans work. They assume that out-of-network means zero coverage. We cannot really blame people, dental insurance is a never ending web of confusion and consistently changing. It is not like anyone typically "teaches" you about these things, you are just supposed to know somehow.
The problem is, because so many people do not understand their dental insurance, they make a lot of assumptions about what it covers, doesn't cover or where they should go to get the best coverage. We are here to help you understand and maximize your coverage.
What is a PPO plan?
PPO is short for Preferred Provider Organization. The name is misleading because a PPO plan is a type of plan that accepts both "preferred providers", aka in-network AND out-of-network offices. If you have a PPO plan, which many patients do, your insurance will cover a portion of your dental treatment at an out-of-network provider.
How do in-network discounts work?
In-network or contracted dentists sign contracts with dental insurance companies agreeing to charge pre-determined amounts for certain services. The pre-determined amounts are oftentimes significantly lower than what an office would normally be willing to charge. Why would a dentist do this? Because the insurance companies swear that in-network dentists will get more patients, leading to quantity over quality situations. The extreme discounts that contacted dentists have to give may be good for patient's pockets but they can force dentists to cut dangerous concerns. A great example of this are procedures that require a dental lab (like retainers, crowns and bridges). The price you pay at a non-contracted dentist covers that lab cost. At an in-network dentist, the office may have to absorb those lab costs. After a while the office may decide to use a cheaper lab that does not make as good of products but offers lower prices.
This why a lot of dentists are switching to out-of-of network. They realize that, as in-network providers, they are cutting corners and negatively affecting their patient's dental health. Our patient's health is our top priority.
Will I have to file my own insurance at an out-of-network dentist?
This is another big myth that our new patients come in with. We do the legwork for you! In our office, we have a member of our team who does this all day. They know the dental lingo and how to get it done efficiently and correctly. When you come in as a new patient, we will take a look at your insurance, explain your benefits and, after your appointment, file your insurance for you.
Aren't in-network providers the best dentists?
You insurance company might tell you this, but in truth, they have no idea about the credentials of the dentists they are partnered with. The only qualifications they are looking for are a dental license and a clean criminal record. They do not care about ow many hours of continuing education or how many fellowships the dentist has.