Establishing a clear and firm financial policy for your dental office helps to see that your practice is paid without the type of misunderstandings that can cost you new patients and referrals so always give a copy of your financial policy to each new patient at the initial appointment. It is vital that payment be received at the time of service. This includes co-pays. Keeping your fee schedules up to date as payments are made should make estimating co-pays relatively easy. I also recommend that for lab cases the patient pay 50% up front and 50% at delivery or within thirty days.
Recommended payment options:
1. Prepay Option: 5% courtesy discount offered on treatment over $500.00. Some offices only offer this to non-insurance patients. If you offer to insured patients make sure to check with the insurance company for their specific rules on doing so.
2. 12 months same as cash based on approved credit application. 0% interest if paid within 12 months. See Care Credit info.
3. Payment at time of service: If need be, payment can be split over appointments if the treatment takes more than one visit. Only offer if they ask.
4. If an appointment is three or more hours, the procedure must be pre-paid (minimally half down) in advance of the appointment. Explain that you have had patients “no-show” for these appointments in the past and the dentist and assistants sit around doing nothing for three hours. Any exceptions to this rule should be signed off by the doctor.
Complimentary Dental Office Financial Arrangements Scripts