Insurance Freedom Checklist

Linda Anderson - Senior Advanced Business Systems Coach

It is not realistic to take a practice off assignment without considerable thought and planning combined with a team approach.
Assess if you're ready to take the plunge into insurance freedom by completing the checklist below. It will assess your readiness and planning techniques for moving from assignment to a fee for service practice.
Check the boxes that you have in place or agree with.

I/We feel that the value of the services I deliver exceed the fee I charge.

I/We feel I am a caregiver who adds value to the lives of my patients.

The entire team is on board believing in non-assignment and ready for the challenge over the next year or two.

I/We have replaced the statement of "we will see what is covered" with "we will work with you to maximize your benefits."

I/We have written patient communication explaining why it's best for the patient to pay at time of service.

I/We know and communicate that insurance is not meant to be a pay all, but a financial assistance to help patients access preventive and basic restorative dentistry only.

I/We diagnose treatment based on the patient's oral health not based on their policy, negotiated between their employer and the insurance company.

I/We have a treatment coordinator in place that can explain fees and train the patient to better understand their individual benefits.

I/We submit claims through EDI so the policy holder will receive their insurance cheques within a few days.

I/We do not offer a pre-determination as a form of closure or asking for a decision.

I/We understand the hundreds of man-hours that will be saved in reduction of statements, calling patients, being ON HOLD with insurance companies, resubmissions, filing EOB receipts, monitoring to prevent going over the patient's maximum and chasing patients for co-payments or deductibles.

I/We accept cheques, debit, multiple credit cards and work with a financial partner for financing options.

Scoring - If you have checked:
0-4 boxes - NOT READY - stop now and prepare a plan.
5-9 - CLOSE TO READY - don't give up and work on what is missing.
10-12 - MORE THAN READY - start immediately.