Financing & Insurance

Dental insurance is not like medical insurance, and understanding that distinction can save you a great deal of frustration. Think of dental benefits as more of a gift card or a spending account, rather than a traditional medical insurance policy. Most dental plans come with an annual maximum, a deductible, and coverage percentages that vary depending on the type of procedure. Dental plan benefits also vary widely from employer to employer, based on the benefits they selected for their beneficiaries (you). According to the American Dental Association’s MouthHealthy resource on dental plan types, PPO plans are among the most common and typically allow patients to see providers both in and out of network, although coverage levels may differ.

What that means for patients at Imagine Dentistry is that visiting an out-of-network provider does not necessarily mean your benefits disappear. It means your plan may reimburse you at a different rate, and the team can walk you through what to expect before your appointment so there are no surprises at checkout. Because benefits vary so dramatically from company to company and plan to plan, a quick conversation with the office before scheduling is always the smartest first step.

Imagine Dentistry electronically submits claims to a wide range of insurance carriers as a courtesy to all patients. The list below represents many of the plans we file with, though it is not all-inclusive, and network status can change at any time. If you do not see your carrier listed, please call the office to discuss your specific plan. Even if we are out of network for your carrier, electronic claim filing is still possible, and many patients are pleasantly surprised by what their plan covers.The following carriers are among those that Imagine Dentistry files with:

• Aegis | Electrical Components International
• MetLife | Senior Supplemental Insurance
• Emblem Health / GHI | Mid-West National Life Insurance Company of Tennessee | EMI Health | Morgan White – Standard Life / Am First
• Mutual of Omaha | Alterwood – Medicare Only | Equitable | My WellSpont
• AlwaysCare / StarrMount / Unum | Fidelio Dental Insurance | National Foundation Life | AmeriBen Solutions
• First Continental Life | National General Accident and Health | Beam Dental | Free Market Administrators
• Nationwide Insurance | Blackhawk (Precise | Virtue | Luminous | NAPP Ivory Dental) | Freedom Life | NetCare
• BEST Health Plans | GEHA | Pacific Life | Blue Shield of CA
• Harrington / Colonial Life | New Era Life (NEI) – Philadelphia American | Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan | Health Resources / Dental Health Options
• Preferred Insurance Specialist | Bright Benefits | Healthgram | Printing Specialists Northwest
• CareFirst | HealthNet Associates – HealthNet of Arizona, California, and Oregon | Renaissance | Century Healthcare
• Healthplex | Roofers Union Welfare Trust Fund | Chesapeake Life Insurance Company (Health Markets) | Healthscope
• SkyGen | CHUBB | Humana (FL) | Self Insured Services Co.
• Cigna DVH | Humana (Zelis) | Shelterpoint – Pro Benefits Admin | Citizens Security Life
• Colonial Life | Staff Benefits Management & Administrators | Companion Life | Imperial
• Suffolk County Employee Benefit Plan | Corporate Benefit Services | Kaiser | Superior Dental Care
• Cypress – DenteMax Plus | Key Benefit Administrators | SureBridge | Delta Health Systems
• LifeShield | Trans America | Dental Care Plus Group – Dentemax Plus | Lincoln Financial
• DenteMax Plus | Management Benefit Fund (ASO) | DNOA – Blue Cross Blue Shield (TX, IL, NM, OK, MT) | Administrative Services Only (ASO)
• Unimerica Dental | DNOA – Dearborn National | Manhattan Life | Zelis – Cigna
• DNOA – LineCo | Medical Mutual | DocuHealth (Reservists) | Merchants Benefit Administrators

Please keep in mind that this list is not exhaustive, and being listed here does not confirm in-network status. Call the office to verify your specific benefits before your appointment. The team is happy to help make sense of what your plan will and will not cover.

Making care accessible means offering flexible ways to pay, and Imagine Dentistry has built that flexibility into every step of the financial experience.

Accepted Payment Methods

Imagine Dentistry accepts a wide range of payment methods to make transactions easy and flexible. We accept cash, Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, and checks, noting that a $50 returned check fee applies and checks are not accepted at your initial visit. We also gladly accept HSA and FSA funds.For patients who want to spread out the cost of treatment, Imagine Dentistry works with two financing partners.CareCredit andCherry both offer flexible financing options that allow you to move forward with the care you need without putting it off, and you can apply for either directly through the links provided.

The Love.Your.Smile. Dental Membership Plan

For patients without dental insurance, or those who find that their coverage does not go as far as they would like, Imagine Dentistry offers its own in-houseLove.Your.Smile. Dental Membership Plan. The plan is designed to provide real value for North Carolina patients who want consistent, qualitydental care without the uncertainty or waiting periods that are common with traditional insurance. It includes preventive care and emergency care, and offers a discount on treatment, making it a smart and straightforward alternative worth exploring.

Understanding the office’s policies ahead of time makes for a smoother experience from scheduling all the way through checkout.

Appointment Policy

At Imagine Dentistry, your appointment time is reserved exclusively for you. The team takes pride in making sure each patient receives the personal attention they deserve, and that means planning carefully around every scheduled visit. If you need to cancel or reschedule, please provide at least two full business days’ notice before your appointment.

The office is open Tuesday through Friday, 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Without that notice, we reserve the right to charge a cancellation fee.

Financial Policy for Insured Patients

Imagine Dentistry will file insurance on your behalf and will accept direct payment from your insurance carrier. You authorize the release of any records, including diagnosis, examination, or treatment, necessary to process your claim. You are responsible for any co-payments and deductibles at the time of treatment, as well as any balance remaining after your insurance reimburses.

Balances left unpaid after 60 days of attempted collection may be sent to a collection agency, and a 40% administrative fee will be added to the outstanding balance. Reviewing your plan details and talking with our team ahead of your visit helps ensure everything goes smoothly for everyone.

Dr. Ann Blaine Coambs has been providing exceptional dental care in the Charlotte area for more than 20 years and has earned Charlotte Magazine’s Top Dentists Award every year since 2016. Whether you are navigating out-of-network benefits, exploring financing through CareCredit or Cherry, or looking for a simpler path through the Love.Your.Smile. Membership Plan, our team is here to help you find the option that fits your life.If you have questions about your coverage, your payment options, or anything else before your first visit, do not hesitate to reach out.Schedule an appointment today and let the Imagine Dentistry team help you move forward with confidence!

Love.Your.Smile.