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7 Frequently Asked Questions About Insurance

Home » Blog » 7 Frequently Asked Questions About Insurance

dental insurance form
  • Charleston Orthodontics
  • March 26, 2020

By Brenda Cooper Servi, Insurance Coordinator

For most Americans, one of the most important elements of any medical or dental decision is knowing how insurance works. So if you’re considering starting orthodontic treatment, you’re likely wondering how your insurance will come into play when helping you pay for treatment. Here are some answers to some of the most common questions about insurance and orthodontics.

Can I Use Dental Insurance for Orthodontic Treatment?

The short answer? Yes. In most circumstances, a standard dental insurance plan should help you pay for orthodontic treatment. The actual percentage of your orthodontic treatment that will be covered by your insurance company depends on the specific plan you have. Not all insurance plans are the same, so you could have a small portion covered or the majority of your treatment covered.

What if I Switch Policies During Treatment?

It’s generally recommended that you keep your policy for the whole course of your treatment to guarantee you receive your benefits. While dental insurance works for orthodontic treatment, the benefits are applied over time rather than all at once. This is because orthodontic treatment works in phases whereas most dental procedures are finished at once. If you transfer to a new policy midway through your treatment, your new policy may re-evaluate your treatment as “work in progress,” which typically leaves you with the remaining costs, unless the new insurance plan covers work in progress.

What Happens if I Have Two Insurance Plans?

The billing team at the orthodontic office will be in contact with both of the insurance companies that could potentially provide benefits for your orthodontic treatment. They will then let you know how each policy will pay for your orthodontic treatment, allowing you to make the best financial decision for yourself.

Can an Insurance Company Pay the Insured Directly?

Patients often wonder if an insurance company is required to send payments directly to the orthodontic office or if they can elect to have the insurance payments sent to them instead since they are the insured (the subscriber). This depends on the policy of the orthodontic office you choose. Many times the orthodontist is an in-network provider, which requires the insurance plan to pay the orthodontist directly unless the insured has already paid the entire treatment in full. If this is the case, the subscriber of the policy would get reimbursed after the fact.

What Is a Discounted Plan?

A discounted plan works different than a conventional health/dental insurance plan. These plans offer a flat percentage off treatments for specific doctors who have partnered with them. It’s a good option because patients don’t have to wait for insurance to pay. You’ll need to keep this insurance plan during the entire course of your treatment to receive the benefits.

What if I Lose my Insurance Partway Through Treatment?

If this were to happen, you would lose any benefits that have not been paid to the office. While this may be distressing, if this were to happen, you can arrange a new payment plan that works for your budget by choosing new repayment terms.

Here at Charleston Orthodontic Specialists, we will help you find a payment plan that works for you. We’ll advocate to your insurance company on your behalf as much as possible to maximize your coverage, and should the worst-case scenario happen and your coverage gets canceled, we’ll do what we can to make your treatment affordable for you.

Contact Charleston Orthodontic Specialists today to schedule your free consultation and to learn more about paying for braces.

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PATIENT REVIEWS

Our 5-Star Experience

There is nothing that warms our hearts more than hearing from patients who have had a great experience at our office. Check out what our patients are saying about us!

You Have the Best Smile | Dr. and Teen Patient
Charles L.
Outstanding Services on getting braces done for your kids or yourself. Dr. Patel and his staff are absolutely squared away and produce great results. Definitely Military Friendly for both active duty and retirees.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that you had a positive experience with Dr. Patel and our team. It's great to know that our commitment to providing excellent service resonates with our patients, especially those in the military community. We appreciate your support and look forward to continuing to deliver outstanding care!
lexus D.
10/10 service , clean environment and it smells great ! today i came from another dentist and my brackets were different from
the ones they use . long story short they were still able to tightened them for me and i would recommend this dentist
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that you had a positive experience with our team and appreciated the clean environment. It's great to know we could assist you with your needs. Your recommendation means a lot to us!
tamekica M.
Went to this place about a week ago, and from the front door to the back, customer services was awesome!! Shot out to Mrs. Laurie she was really sweet and pleasant. 10/10.
Response from the owner:We're thrilled to hear that our team, especially Mrs. Laurie, made such a positive impression. Your feedback inspires us to continue providing exceptional service. We look forward to welcoming you back soon!
Paula R.
Love this place. Always great service, handsome orthodontist, always take you on time. Kind staff.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that you consistently enjoy our service and appreciate the punctuality and kindness of our team. Your support means a lot to us!
Shamicka B.
I would absolutely recommend everyone to get serves at Charleston Orthodontist they always do a great job and good customer service , and very clean atmosphere they always have snacks, coffee, tea, and water bottles they most definitely make you feel comfortable and at home. The Orthodontist doctor is the best also love them all very respectful and professional staff. I have been a patient of there's for about three almost four years and never had a problem or disappointment in services. There the best.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that you feel at home with us and appreciate the efforts of our team to provide a comfortable and welcoming environment. Your recommendation means a lot, and we’re grateful to have you as part of our community for nearly four years. We look forward to continuing to serve you with the best care possible!
Andee C.
The office is beautiful and so well kept. All of the staff is so nice and welcoming. I’m very happy with my decision to visit.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're happy to hear that you enjoyed your visit and found our office inviting. Our team takes great pride in creating a welcoming environment, and it's fantastic to know that it made a positive impression on you. We look forward to seeing you again!
Mary H.
So impressed with this office. So welcoming. We met everyone and immediately knew this was our choice for braces
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that you felt welcomed and confident in your choice for braces. Our team is dedicated to creating a positive experience for all our patients, and it’s great to know we’re on the right track. We look forward to supporting you on your journey!
jeannette B.
I got my braces through them and I love my results. The employees and Doctor are great always make me feel comfortable when am there. If any problems they immediately have you come in to address it. Have referred plenty of people to them
Aliaah J.
My experience here was AWESOME ‼️ Staff is really nice and braces are definitely affordable !
Response from the owner:We are so happy to hear that you had a great experience! We loved having you!
Lashawna B.
It was a great experience from the moment we walked in and interacted with the front desk to the staff that assisted us. And most importantly, the doctor was very professional and thorough in explaining his recommendations as well as why he recommended what he did.
Response from the owner:Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience! We're thrilled to hear that our team made a positive impression from the start and that the doctor provided clear and thorough explanations. Your feedback inspires us to continue delivering exceptional care. We appreciate your support!
Sheena N.
Loved my entire experience all the staff and provider was very kind, informative and professional! Results were good improvement .....would recommend!
Response from the owner:Thank you for sharing! We're so happy to hear that our team made a positive impact and that you saw good results. Your recommendation means a lot to us, and we look forward to continuing to provide you with excellent care!
Tori S.
10/10 would absolutely come here again if I ever needed to! Everyone is so sweet & professional. Any question, concern or problem I had throughout my treatment were addressed promptly & efficiently. I don’t think I could have chose a better company for my treatment! Amazing experience to say the least
Response from the owner:We have loved having you as a patient Tori! Although your braces journey is coming to an end soon, we hope to see your smiling face again soon. We are so grateful for your confidence in our office!
Chelsea B.
Awesome experience at Charleston Ortho. Ms. Laurie(Llama) and Dr. Patel were amazing. I had to bring my son with me and he stole the show. I’m on day to of my braces and barely any pain. 10/10
Response from the owner:We loved having you both! Bring him anytime :) We are also so happy to hear that you are acclimating to the braces so well! See you soon!
Angelica C.
I love coming to this place because they make me feel comfortable and the people that work at the orthodontics are really nice there. I love coming there
Response from the owner:We love having you here Angelica! Knowing that our patients feel comfortable and enjoy coming to their appointments makes our day!
Fire S.
I recommend this to anyone who need orthodontist care. They were very thorough. The process was quick. No long wait, friendly and respectful Team.
Response from the owner:Thanks for the great review! We're really glad to hear you had a smooth and positive experience with us. It means a lot that you’d recommend us—and we’ll keep working hard to make sure every visit feels just as friendly and easy. Hope to see you again soon!
Benita N.
Halfway through my orthodontic journey. The staff and specialists at Charleston Orthodontics are great. They keep me informed of my progress and are always available to answer any questions i have regarding my treatment. If you’re looking for an orthodontic practice, give Charleston Orthodontics a call. You’ll be glad you did.
Response from the owner:Thank you for choosing our office Benita!
william R.
Super friendly and efficient! I had an emergency and needed a replacement retainer! The entire staff from start to finish were professional and compassionate!
Response from the owner:We are so happy that we were able to help out, William!
Lee L.
Can’t say it enough I LOVEEEEEEE EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS PLACE FROM THE ORTHODONTIST DR. Patel & all of the specialist including front desk❤️❤️❤️
Response from the owner:We LOVEEEE everything about having you as a patient!! Thank you so much for the review!! ❤️
Jennifer W.
Wonderful experience! Waiting time for anything, scheduling and cost, can’t beat it anywhere else. Staff is always pleasant and Dr. Patel is brilliant! I have enjoyed the service and will have my family do service in the future. My treatment came out beautifully!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words and thoughtful review! Dr. Patel and our entire team truly appreciate your trust and are so happy you're pleased with your results. We’re honored to care for you and your family, and we look forward to seeing you again in the future!
Derron D.
I’ve been a patient at Charleston Orthodontics for the past three years while receiving braces, and I couldn’t be happier with my experience. The staff is incredibly friendly and always made me feel welcome at every visit. The office is spotless and well-maintained, which made each appointment comfortable. I also really appreciated that the payment plans were reasonable and manageable. Overall, I highly recommend Charleston Orthodontic to anyone looking for quality orthodontic care!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words and for being a patient with us for the past three years! We’re happy to hear that you’ve had such a positive experience with our team and that our office, care, and payment plans met your expectations. Your recommendation means the world to us, and we’re so happy we could be a part of your orthodontic journey. We look forward to continuing to provide you with excellent care!
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