Smile Oasis Office Financial Policies

Financial Policy

As a condition of treatment within Smile Oasis, financial arrangements must be made in advance. The practice depends upon reimbursement from patients for the costs incurred in their care. Financial responsibility on the part of each patient must be determined before treatment. Before any dental treatment begins, the patient and/or responsible party will receive a consultation regarding that appointment’s treatment and costs. If you have dental insurance, insurance estimates are estimates, and may vary in the actual payment received from your dental insurance. If your insurance does not pay their full estimated amount, the patient is responsible for the remaining balance. We attempt to keep our fees as low as possible while still providing quality care in our office. Prompt payments enable us to keep administrative costs associated with billing and collection efforts lower for everyone. Actual treatment costs are based on the Smile Oasis or Insurance Carrier Fee Schedule, whichever is better, that are in effect when a procedure is started. We accept Cash, Certified Check, American Express, Discover, Visa, and MasterCard for payment. For procedures that take multiple appointments to complete, payment may be split up over a number of appointments requested with a deposit. Should you require monthly installments, please consult our dental team. We offer financing options with CareCredit, Sunbit, Alpheon and Cherry. Only written agreements /arrangements are honored. Any fee estimates for dental care can only be extended for a period of six months from the date of patient examination. In consideration for the professional services rendered by the practice, patient must agree to pay the charges for the services at the time of treatment, or within five (5) days of billing if credit is extended. In addition, patients will have to agree that the charges for services shall be billed unless objected to, in writing, within the time payment is due. 

Insurance Policy

As a courtesy to our patients with dental insurance, we currently accept, we will file your insurance claim and allow you to pay only your deductible and/or co-payment as services are rendered. You will be expected to assign payment of insurance benefits to the doctor for treatment. Any payments received by the doctor from your insurance company will be credited to your account, or refunded to you, if you have paid the dental fees incurred. When the reimbursement check is required to be sent to you and the insurance company is unwilling to pay us directly, we ask that you pay the full balance the day the services are rendered, and we will file your insurance for you.  Please remember that the contract is between you and your insurance company and your total balance in our office is always your responsibility. We make every effort to give you an accurate estimate of what your portion of our fees will be based on the information provided to us from you and your dental insurance provider. Should the actual payment from your insurance company be different than originally estimated, you will be billed or credited according to the status of your overall account. When presenting your dental benefits and treatment plan from your dental insurance, insurance estimates are estimates, and may vary in the actual payment received from your dental insurance. If your insurance does not pay their full estimated amount, the patient is responsible for the remaining balance. Any dispute regarding reimbursement or the amount of reimbursement is between you and your insurance carrier. We recommend all patients  to familiarize with any restrictions and all details associated with your insurance policy prior to initiating treatment. 

Past Due Accounts Policy

Account aging begins the day your charges are incurred and a late fee of $10.00 per month on the unpaid balance will be charged on all accounts exceeding 60 (sixty) days, unless previously written financial arrangements are satisfied. Again, in an effort to keep administrative costs associated with billing and collection efforts low, we require a credit/debit card to be on file to pay balance(s) due or issue refunds. Your credit/debit card will be charged or credited upon completion of services or receipt of explanation of benefits from your insurance carrier and a statement of services will be emailed and/or mailed to the address on file. If your credit card is denied, we will make multiple attempts to charge or credit the card on file until payment or refund is issued. If you wish to remove your credit/debit card on file (cancel future debits or credits), all requests must be in writing (electronic mail or certified mail). 

Accounts that are 120 (one hundred twenty) days past due shall be turned over to a third-party collection agency or small claims. We require a social security number to be on file, in case collections is necessary. This action will result in an additional fee of 45% of your unpaid balance being added to your account (including late fees). We will do so only if all other efforts to collect your unpaid balance within 120 days have failed. In addition, if your account is sent to a third-party collection agency or small claims, you will be responsible for the additional costs not limited to court costs and attorney fees. 

Appointment Cancellation / No Show Policy

When you reserve a time with us please make every attempt to make your appointment. The time is set aside specifically for you. You will receive an email, phone call or text message reminding you of your appointment. When you receive this message please call, text or email to confirm your appointment. We have a 48 HOUR CANCELLATION POLICY. If you need to change or reschedule your appointment, please give us at least 48 hours notice to be able to fill the time with others waiting for treatment. Late Cancellation and No show appointments will incur a $100 FEE that will be charged to your card on file.