Making the Most of Your Dental Benefits
At Willow Tree Dental, we help you use your dental benefits wisely so you can make informed decisions about your care.
We accept most PPO plans and file claims as a courtesy.
We are not in-network with HMO, DHMO, Medicaid, or traditional Medicare plans, and those benefits are typically not usable in our office. Patients with these plans are always welcome to be seen as self-pay patients.
Understanding Your Coverage
Your dental benefits are a contract between you, your employer, and your insurance company.
Our role is to diagnose, explain your options, and help you understand how your benefits may apply. Any estimates we provide are not guarantees—they are based on the information available at the time. Final coverage is determined by your insurance after the claim is processed.
Uncovered amounts are the patient’s responsibility.
Our Network Participation
We do not hold direct contracts with insurance companies. However, we do participate with third-party networks, including Connection Dental and Zelis.
Some plans that may use these networks include GEHA, select United Healthcare, BCBS, MetLife, Cigna, Guardian, and some Medicare Advantage plans.
Flexible Options
We offer payment options to help you move forward with care:
What does “covered” mean?
“Covered” means a procedure is part of your plan—not that it will be paid.
Final payment depends on your specific benefits, limitations, and how the claim is processed.
A quote of benefits—whether provided by your insurance company or our office—is not a guarantee of payment.
Why doesn’t my insurance cover the treatment you recommended?
Insurance companies do not determine what you need—they determine what they help pay for.
We recommend treatment based on your health, not your plan.
Some necessary treatments may not be covered or may be covered at a lower level.
Why is my estimate different from what insurance paid?
Estimates are based on the information available before treatment.
After your claim is submitted, your insurance company reviews it and applies their rules, which can change the final amount they pay.
Is a pre-treatment estimate the same as a prior authorization?
No. A pre-treatment estimate is not an approval.
Prior authorizations, as commonly understood in medical insurance, generally do not exist in dental benefits.
Insurance companies do not approve treatment ahead of time—they process claims after treatment is completed.
Final payment is determined after your claim is submitted, reviewed, and processed according to your plan.
Questions about your benefits? Give us a call—we’ll help you understand your options.
