Insurance Information

  • The office of Dr. Alexis B. Olsson is out-of-network with medical/dental insurance policies
  • Out-of-network refers to a health care provider who does not have a contract with your health insurance plan. Health care services could cost more since the provider does not have a pre-negotiated rate with your health plan.
  • Payments are due in full at the time of service; any unpaid balance rests on you
  • As a courtesy to our patients we will submit a claim to insurance for you, excluding Medicare. Please understand that insurance is a contract between you and your insurance company

Will my insurance company pay all my medical bills?

Not always. The range of benefits depends on the type of plan you have. Some plans exclude certain types of services such as anesthesia charges or “simple” extractions while other plans cover a full range of services. Some plans may cover as little as 30% or as much as 100% of services, with most falling in the 50-80% range.

What does it mean when my insurance company says the charges are over the “usual & customary?”

You may receive a communication from your insurance carrier suggesting that our fees were over and above the “usual and customary” rate for the services provided to you. Insurance companies base the amount of benefit on a chart or schedule of fees arbitrarily developed by them. How they determine the amount of benefit is a mystery to both the dental and medical professions, since they will not reveal this information. It should be pointed out that insurance companies make no fee allowances for the fact that your treatment is performed by a specialist. The fees paid by insurance companies are based solely on general dental and medical fees. An explanation of what goes into determining our fees is available for you.

Why don’t all doctors charge the same?

Doctors’ fees vary for many reasons. A specialist, who sees fewer patients because more time must be spent with each one, and who has put in extra years of advanced study and spent more for scientific equipment, will normally charge higher fees. Our fees are based on the overhead involved in this practice, the treatment plan selected and the time it takes to provide you with superior care, and are in line with fees charged by the majority of offices with our training and experience. The type of treatment you need and receive from us is based upon our professional judgment and not on whether you are covered by an insurance plan. In addition, the fees are the same, whether or not a patient has insurance.

What can I do if I am not pleased with my insurance benefits?

If, after completion of your care and payment by your insurance carrier, you believe that the benefits provided by your plan were inadequate, you may want to discuss the matter with your employer, union, or association so that appropriate alternatives can be investigated.