What is required to be a dentist?

Dentist office didn't submit claim to insurance in required time, what can I do?

• I began my invisalign treatment last May and paid $5,000. My insurance company covers $1,000, which I was supposed to get back once the claim went through. I got a new insurance company in September at which point I checked on the claim with the office staff. They said it wasn't yet submitted but would be submitted right away. In the beginning of December I received a letter saying the claim was denied. It turned out they submitted the claim to my new insurance company. I immediately called them and told them they needed to submit it to my new insurance company. I periodically called the office to check on the claim and they did not submit it until the end of February. I called the insurance company and they said it was pending but there is a 90 day period from the date of treatment that the office has to claim so my claim will likely be denied. I have a PPO if that matters for anything. I plan to write a letter to my doctors office and to the insurance company explaining the situation and disputing the claim. Is there anything else I can do? This has gone on for so long and in my opinion, the dentist office messed up by not submitting my claim in a timely manner. I really need this money. Thank you!

• Answer:

  Regardless if the dentist office submitted the claim to the wrong company. It is YOUR responsibility to make sure the claims are submitted to your insurance company promptly. The Dentist office is doing you a favor by submitting them. There is no one to blame but yourself.