No copayment offers can really cost you

Dentists are not taking a cut in pay when they do not collect patient payments. Instead, these dentists charge inflated fees to Delta Dental or other carriers to make up for the money they lose from waiving copayments.

Overbilling dentists also compensate for these "free" services by performing far more dental procedures than other dentists. Sometimes these procedures are unnecessary, and you and your family may end up with more x-rays, fillings and crowns — all at a greater cost to your employer or union. As a result, when dental program costs skyrocket, employers end up having to cut back on the benefits they offer.

Accepting your insurance as payment in full and disregarding copayments or deductibles is against the law in many states and is viewed by the dental profession as unethical. It is also a violation of the dentist's contract with Delta Dental. Can you trust a dentist who breaks the law or uses fraudulent methods to seek additional income from your dental carrier?

Delta Dental takes overbilling very seriously, and we use a variety of methods to fight it. To keep the kind of dental plan you have, however, all the anti-fraud methods at Delta Dental's disposal are not enough without your cooperation.

If your dentist is waiving copayments, or if you have any other suspicions that your dentist might be overbilling, please contact us.

No matter how irresistible the offer of "free" dentistry seems, the care you receive really isn't free. It increases costs and could make your present dental plan too expensive for your employer to offer. Remember, in the end, "no copayment" could eventually mean "no dental plan."