Can Any Dentist File Medical Insurance Claims?

If the dentist is performing a treatment that is not necessarily just affecting the smile or oral health, medical insurance coverage may be open to the patient. In these cases, a dentist can file medical insurance claims. Some dentists don’t know that this option is open to them, but in many situations, it’s important to understand the way medical insurance coverage can help make advanced treatments more affordable for your patients. Taking time to explore potential medical insurance coverage in addition to maximizing dental benefits can truly set a dental practice apart from the competition.

Why Dental Offices Would File Medical Claims

Dental offices may file for medical claims in a variety of situations. However, the most common reason dentists file for medical insurance claims is in the case of sleep apnea treatment. Patients diagnosed with sleep apnea are often referred to a dentist for alternative treatment when it’s discovered that they are CPAP intolerant. Dentists who treat sleep apnea regularly are likely already familiar with this process. If you’re just starting to offer sleep apnea appliances in your practice, it’s important to understand how and when to process a claim through medical insurance rather than dental plans. In some cases, dental insurance will cover part of the treatment cost for sleep apnea appliances, but this is the rare exception. In most cases, you’ll need to file the claim through their medical insurance.

How Dentists Set Up Medical Billing

If you’re new to medical insurance billing, the good news is that the process is actually quite simple. A new office will need to set up an account with the medical insurance company. This is as simple as contacting the medical insurance provider and giving them the name of your practice, the MPI tax ID number, and contact information including address and phone number. Once you’re on file with the medical insurance company, you can simply submit your medical claims electronically or by mail. It’s that simple.

Meet the Brady Billing Team

At Brady Billing, we are truly the experts in maximizing dental and medical insurance coverage for patients. If you want to improve your insurance billing process for patients, working with Brady Billing may be a great first step. We take all the paperwork off your plate, so you and your team can concentrate on what’s most important – providing exceptional dental care for your patients. If you have questions or want to find out more about what we do, please don’t hesitate to contact Brady Billing. We’re here to help whenever you need us.