My dental insurance is a PPO. What does In-Network and Out-of-Network mean?

Participating Provider Network (PPO): We do accept PPO plans. By the very nature of this plan the insurance company generally pays the dentist a percentage of your services according to the policy you purchased. Depending on your specific plan, the PPO allows you to choose an In-Network or Out-of-Network provider. By choosing the In-Network option the provider and the insurance companies have an agreement to use a fee schedule that reflects the average fee in the area. With the Out-of-Network choice the insurance company and the provider do not have such an agreement therefore the insurance companies pay their percentage on the provider’s customary fee schedule. 

What if I have a dental plan that I have never heard of before?

You just may be in luck. Over the past years many insurance companies have been merging and buying into each other. This gives rise to a benefit that most people are unaware of. Your insurance plan may be accepted under a better known plan because of their affiliation. For example: My practice is In-Network with Maverest/Zelis. If your PPO plan is Ameritas then you can come to my office as an In-Network Maverest/Zelis participant and receive the benefits of that plan. 

But I don’t see you on my dental insurance website. 

Because these insurance company affiliations have created such a massive network of potential providers it would be a major undertaking to list all current providers on their website. This would require the Insurance companies to continually track the providers of all affiliate insurance companies. The best source of action would be to call my office to confirm if we would be an In-Network Provider. 

Below is a list of the insurance companies for which we are, either directly or as an affiliate, In-Network providers. 

Cigna Core PPO   

Delta Dental  

Humana PPO                                                                                               

Central States                                                                                              

Team Care 

 Metlife PPO

Careington Platinum PPO                                                                                                                                             

DNOA (Blue Cross Blue Shield) of TX, NM, IL, OK

Guardian

Lincoln Financial

Nationwide Ins/Health Plan Services Inc.

Renaissance Holding

Security Life/Meritain

United Health Care/DBP

Maverest-Zelis

Ameritas

First benefit Administrators Solution

HealthSmart Benefit Solutions

Mutal of Omaha

Principal

Renaissance Dental

SunLife

DHA/Assurant

Aetna

Americas Choice Health Plans

Assurant Employee Benefits

Assurant Health

Meritain Health

UMR

United Concordia Alliance

Tri-Care

GEHA

Aetna

Metlife

Delta Dental