Dental Insurance Articles
How To File A Dental Insurance Claim Correctly
2010-07-17
A necessary part of obtaining reimbursement for monies you have paid for your dental care is the correct filing of your dental insurance claims. It's not hard to do. Just be sure to ask when obtaining your dental insurance quotes or follow the steps outlined by your insurer after your coverage is in place. The process will most likely include the following steps.
The most important part of filing the claim is including the form you receive from your dentist. This form will have your name and the name and license number of your dentist along with a transaction code or codes circled or printed. These codes correspond to all of the work that has been done on each date of service. Every procedure has an associated code, and it doesn't matter who or where the dentist is. Each transaction code means the same thing whether your dentist is located in Michigan or Virginia. Insurers therefore know exactly what they're paying for and so do you. The rate your insurer will pay for that code may vary by where you live and the cost of dental care in your area, but that calculation will be based on the code.
The other thing you'll need to file your claim is a dental claim form. When you receive your dental insurance quotes, be sure to find out where you get the claim forms. Many insurers have them online, where you can fill them in and then print them out, while others make them available only in hardcopy. The claim form will likely be different than the claim form for your medical expenses, so be sure you have the right form. Fill in all the information at the top: such as your ID number, name, relationship to the insured, the name of the insured's employer, your date of birth, gender, marital status, and whether or not you have supplemental insurance. You'll also likely be asked if the claim is related to an accident. If it is, provide details as specified. There will also be a place where you specify whether or not you want to assign the payment directly to the dentist.
The claim form will have a section for the specifics of the service performed. Many dental insurance claims processors will accept the form if you write "please see attached" and include the form from your insurer along with the claim form. It's not necessary to fill in that complete form. Check with your dental insurer if you're not certain. You may be able to find out when you get your dental insurance quotes. If not, be sure to find out whom to ask when it's time to file a claim.