Are you one of the 68.5 million adults in the U.S. who do not have dental insurance? If so, you may be hesitant to reach out to a Lubbock dentist for your oral health care needs, but it may shock you to know that you might be better off without dental insurance.
At Hancock and Johnston Dentistry, we believe everyone deserves a healthy, beautiful smile at a reasonable price, so we haven’t signed a contract with any insurance companies. This leaves us free to give you comprehensive dental treatment that is personally aligned to your needs and our high standard of care.
In fact, our mission is to provide exceptional service regardless of coverage so every patient feels safe and leaves feeling better about their oral health.
No insurance? No problem. In fact, sometimes insurance causes more problems than it solves.
Insurance Forces a Rushed Experience
For starters, many dental practices in Lubbock rely on insurance for revenue — but not us. We believe the local community should be our customers, not an insurance company.
When a dental clinic contracts with an insurance company, the company encourages the dentists to rush through their patient appointments to churn through more patients just to turn a profit.
This leaves dentists with less time to get to know their patients and come up with a personalized dental plan together, which is a top priority here at Hancock and Johnston.
It is important to us to build a relationship with you. Many of our patients choose our practice because they trust in our team, experience and reputation.
Insurance Doesn’t Cover Most Treatments
If you’re one of the 87% of Americans who have dental insurance, you have likely scratched your head when it comes to costs because no insurance company covers 100% of dental care. Most patients put off dental work because of the cost — including those who are insured.
Many plans deny cosmetic treatments (teeth whitening, bonding, veneers). Orthodontics are rarely covered or may have many restrictions, including not covering Invisalign for adults.
This is because dental insurance isn’t really insurance. It’s more like a discount plan with a very small maximum payout.
In fact, the maximum payout for most plans comes to $1,000 or $1,500 if you’re lucky. This yearly benefit was first set in the 1950s-1960s, and it hasn’t been updated in more than 60 years! Dental work has advanced and costs exponentially more now — if insurance had kept up with inflation, the maximum allowance should be around $10,000.
This means that if you need a root canal or crown or anything other than a preventative cleaning, you’re going to be paying out of pocket.
Insurance Can Interfere with Quality of Care
Insurance can also force a dentist’s hand by only covering certain procedures that are affordable — but they may not be in a patient’s best interest.
As dentists, our training and ethics guide us to provide the highest standard of care, not the “least expensive” alternative.
Example 1:
Amalgam fillings for cavities. Our practice never uses amalgam fillings and always uses composite fillings. However, research shows many insurance plans only cover or strongly recommend amalgam fillings.
Example 2:
X-rays. Some insurance companies cover these every six months, some every two years. It’s arbitrary, and not considerate of your unique oral health.
Without the limitations set by insurance companies, your dentist can opt for the more advanced treatment that will benefit your holistic dental plan.
No Insurance? No Problem
This is why Hancock and Johnston Dentistry doesn’t rely on dental insurance and is an out-of-network provider for all insurance companies.
If you have dental insurance, schedule an appointment for an exam. We offer a complimentary benefit check when you come in for your first visit. We are happy to file the insurance for you, that way you’ll know what your insurance covers ahead of time.
If you don’t have insurance, don’t worry — we will come up with a plan that works for you. Our clinic aims to provide a better patient experience and comprehensive oral care for a lifetime. We care about what’s best for you, not an insurance company.
