Treatment Fees and Financing Options

We want to make orthodontics affordable.  After your initial examination with Dr. Cooke, you will be given an estimate of the fee for the proposed orthodontic treatment.  The treatment coordinator will do everything she can to work within your budget to find a payment plan that makes sense for you!  The fee estimate covers all aspects of the proposed treatment done in our office except for outside diagnostic services and lost or broken removable appliances.  Procedures associated with the treatment but done in other offices (such as extractions and fillings) are not included.

Your treatment coordinator will discuss with you the following options:

1. DIRECT PAYMENT IN FULL: A discount is given if you pay in full before the treatment begins.
2. OFFICE PAYMENT PLAN: Initial down payment and equal monthly payments.
3. SPRINGSTONE FINANCING:  Lending Club makes it easy to say YES to treatment with low monthly payments, no money down, and no payment for 3-7 weeks.  Take up to 18 months to pay with no interest!
4. CREDIT CARD: We accept Visa or Master card for the initial payments.

Most insurance companies only pay a portion of the orthodontic fee.  There are countless agreements between insurance companies and employers, and each contract provides a different benefit.  However, orthodontic insurance generally differs from regular dental insurance in that each insured individual usually has a lifetime maximum benefit for orthodontic services.  This benefit is paid as a percentage of the orthodontic fee until the benefit maximum has been reached.  Charges for lost or broken appliances may not be covered by insurance.

How does this office assist you with insurance?

For your convenience, we will gladly assist you in submitting initial insurance claims pertaining to charges for care rendered in our office.  However, please be aware that our primary financial relationship is with our patients or their families and not with their respective insurance companies.  Financial arrangements can be made based on your estimated insurance benefit; however, any outstanding insurance claims not paid are the responsibility of the patient or the patient’s family.

We are very proud to let you know we have one of the most knowledgeable financial coordinators in the business!  Sarah works with many different Flex Spending programs and she is extremely capable of taking care of the paperwork associated with this form of reimbursement.

Helpful hints:

• Know what your benefits are before treatment starts.   If you are not sure, contact your insurance company so that you know exactly how much you can expect to be paid and when to expect payment.

• If you would like our office to submit claim forms, we ask that you provide us with the name, address and telephone number of your insurance carrier.

• We cannot render services on the assumption that our charges will be paid by an insurance carrier.  However, for your convenience, we will accept payments from your insurance company assigned to us by the insured.  Such payments will be credited accordingly to your account.

• If your company requires verification of continuing treatment, you may send them a copy of your cancelled check or cash receipts.  If your insurance carrier provides a form for verification of continuing treatment, we will be glad to complete the signature portion.