Direct Reimbursement (DR), a new type of dental plan, offers so many benefits to patients that both the American Dental Association (ADA) and the Oklahoma Dental Association (ODA) support its use.
"Both simple and cost effective, Direct Reimbursement is a truly
innovative way for companies to provide dental coverage for their employees," Steve Hogg, DDS says. "And the benefits offered are profound."
"With DR, patients have complete freedom in choosing the dentist they use. Individuals covered can also easily calculate, in advance, what their share of any dental expense will be. In addition, they can receive benefits for all types of dental needs without being limited by insurance plan restrictions,"
Dr. Hogg adds.
Traditional types of dental benefits often limit patients' choice of
dentist and treatment options. Often, limitations of traditional dental
insurance discriminate based on age, by fully covering young beneficiaries, while only partially covering the needs of older individuals.
By comparison, DR covers all procedures equally; cleanings, prosthodontics and periodontics are all included.
These plans are also virtually hassle free. When covered by DR, patients simply visit their dentist of choice, receive the necessary treatment, pay the dentist directly (typically), then submit a paid receipt or proof of treatment to either their employer or a third party administrator. Patients are then reimbursed according to their employer's individual DR design, which vary, according to company budget.
Many DR plans offer payment options for individuals who have difficulty paying "up-front." For example, reimbursement is often received prior to credit card payments being due. Also, some companies pay dentists directly, especially when an expensive procedure is involved.
Any individual or company interested in learning more about DR plans can contact the ODA at (405) 848-8873 or 1-800-876-8890 or by logging on to the ADA's website at www.ada.org/public/faq/index.html .
