--- title: COVID-19's Impact on Dental Insurance description: There is more to consider during COVID-19. Dental insurance expert Colleen Huff shares what dentists and coordinators should be reviewing. image: https://blog.patientprism.com/hubfs/Blog/Featured%20Images/ColleenHuff.png --- - [Contact](https://patientprism.com/contact/) - [Patient PrismLOGIN](https://web.patientprism.com/) [![Patient Prism | Healthcare Lead Tracking Software](https://blog.patientprism.com/hs-fs/hubfs/2024_Patient-Prism_Logo_Blue.png?width=800&height=247&name=2024_Patient-Prism_Logo_Blue.png "Patient Prism | Healthcare Lead Tracking Software")](https://blog.patientprism.com/hubfs/PP-Logo-2024.png) - Product - ![](https://patientprism.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Patient-Prism-Product-Overview-@2x.png) ### [Product Overview Learn more about Patient Prism's key features and benefits](https://patientprism.com/product-overview/) - ![](https://patientprism.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Patient-Prism-Case-Studies@2x.png) ### [Case Studies Learn how Patient Prism transforms dental practices](https://patientprism.com/case-studies/) - ![](https://patientprism.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Patient-Prism-Dental-Practice-Customers@2x.png) ### [Customers Discover the amazing dental practices that utilize Patient Prism](https://patientprism.com/customer/) - Solutions - ### [Private Dental Practice Our software is perfect for single dental practices. 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Visit our help center for quick answers and tutorials.](https://support.patientprism.com/hc/en-us) - ![](https://patientprism.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Affiliate-Program@2x.png) ### [Affiliate Program Be a part of Patient Prism's growing network of affiliates.](https://patientprism.com/affiliates-program/) - [Contact](https://patientprism.com/contact/) - [Patient Prism LOGIN](https://web.patientprism.com/) - [Schedule Demo](https://patientprism.com/schedule-demo/) Patient Prism's Dental Industry Blog Here you'll find hundreds of articles and video interviews with dental industry experts on the topics of DSO and practice growth, dental software, call-tracking technology, patient experience and artificial intelligence fueling the dental industries ability to treat more patients and change lives. - by: Colleen Huff, FAADOM - 8 min read # [COVID-19's Impact on Dental Insurance](https://blog.patientprism.com/covid-impact-dental-insurance) - [Dental Practice Leadership](https://blog.patientprism.com/topic/dental-practice-leadership) - [AI Call Intelligence (1)](https://blog.patientprism.com/topic/ai-call-intelligence) - [Dental Call Tracking (23)](https://blog.patientprism.com/topic/dental-call-tracking) - [Dental Marketing (33)](https://blog.patientprism.com/topic/dental-marketing) - [Dental Practice Leadership (192)](https://blog.patientprism.com/topic/dental-practice-leadership) - [Dental Technology (71)](https://blog.patientprism.com/topic/dental-technology) - [DSO (42)](https://blog.patientprism.com/topic/dso) - [Multi-Practice Growth (95)](https://blog.patientprism.com/topic/multi-practice-growth) - [![](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/6464971/blog_9_wow_design/facebook-logo%20(2).svg)Share](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.patientprism.com%2Fcovid-impact-dental-insurance) - [![](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/6464971/blog_9_wow_design/twitter%20(5).svg)Tweet](https://www.twitter.com/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.patientprism.com%2Fcovid-impact-dental-insurance) - [![](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/6464971/blog_9_wow_design/linkedin-logo%20(2).svg)Post](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.patientprism.com/covid-impact-dental-insurance) - [![](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/6464971/blog_9_wow_design/envelope%20(1).svg)Mail](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.patientprism.com/covid-impact-dental-insurance) June 2020--Dental insurance participation wasn’t fun to manage before COVID. Now there’s even more to consider. Dental insurance expert Colleen Huff,  FAADOM, shares what dentists and insurance coordinators should be reviewing during this insightful conversation with Patent Prism CEO Amol Nirgudkar. Huff has 20 years of experience as one of the country’s top dental practice management consultants, plus she continues to run the offices of two dentists in Buffalo, NY. She knows firsthand how the changes in dental benefits impact business operations.     ## Which Dental Insurance Carriers Reimburse for PPE? There’s a wide variety of dental insurance carriers that are starting to pay for PPE, for at least the short-term. In most cases, you need to be in-network with the carrier and some carriers require ADA codes and a narrative, while others are more lenient. Huff worked with another consultant to create a Google document to track it. [Click here to view the spreadsheet](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1g3iOq2b1fdF45L0iDKukNxYN7c6VfPV3aw2Fe2qBIH0/edit?fbclid=IwAR2v07Y831qU7A7YpEdDmQ9y6Znh3PPw7Ts82kMovcC8wwYWyKPliHdA0js#gid=0) or you can access it through [www.Facebook.com/DentalInsuranceCoach](http://www.Facebook.com/DentalInsuranceCoach). It’s being updated daily. The ADA also has [Coding and Billing Interim Guidance](https://success.ada.org/~/media/CPS/Files/COVID/PPE_Coding_Billing_Guidance.pdf?utm_source=cpsorg&utm_medium=covid-resources-lp-pm&utm_content=cv-coding-and-billing-guidance-ppe&utm_campaign=covid-19) materials available.   ## Dental Practice Insurance Audits It’s important to note that some contracts specifically state you can’t charge for infection control. “If that’s in your contract and you charge your patient anyway, then you’ve breached your contract,” explains Huff. Huff said it’s a mistake to think dentists won’t get caught for violating their contracts. She said more carriers will be performing audits for a number of reasons. Says Huff, “I know for a fact from some of the reps that I’ve talked to that insurance companies are going to be auditing more dentists who saw patients during the shut-down to make sure the work they did fell within the guidelines.”   ## Is Now a Good Time to Evaluate Dental Insurance Participation? Dentists are looking at their contracts to evaluate whether the fees they collect from the carriers are worth staying in-network. Huff said to begin by analyzing your data. “You have to know your bottom number," Huff said. "What is the lowest amount you’re willing to accept? You have to know that data ahead of time. Don’t go into a negotiation without knowing what you’re trying to make your end result.” Huff said there are several considerations, including: - Have you analyzed your data? - Which patients will be affected if you go out-of-network? - Can you renegotiate your rates? - Is there competition for patients with the same plan in your area? - Is the carrier going to start offering an EPO plan to patients this year?   EPO stands for Exclusive Provider Organization. It doesn’t cover any care a patient receives out-of-network. For a dental practice, this means they won’t be able to bill the carrier. This could have an impact on fee-for-service dentists who typically will help their patients maximize their benefits by filing on their behalf as an out-of-network provider. That won’t be an option for patients with an EPO plan. To find out if EPO plans are being offered in your area, ask your provider reps.   ## Double-Check Patients’ Insurance Eligibility One of out five people lost their jobs between March and June. That could impact their insurance benefits eligibility. Unfortunately, that could be harder to check than it used to be. Many companies also furloughed their HR teams, so the companies may not be sending up-to-date employee information to the insurance providers. That could lead to back-dating when they do finally return to work. Many insurance carriers also laid off workers, so they have fewer people available on their side to manage the changes in coverage. A good place to start is to ask your patients if there’s been any changes in their dental insurance coverage. “You definitely can’t assume that whatever was there in February is still there now,” Huff said.   ## How to Use Dental Insurance to Attract Patients Most people are confused by all the insurance plans, limitations, deductibles, and coinsurance information. For her own dental practices, Huff created a letter that helped patients know what questions to ask as they evaluate their dental insurance options. “Seniors don’t know what they’re looking at, so this helps them to understand what’s being offered. Do they just need preventative? Is it worth it to them to spend extra money every month to have a plan that covers more?” Pre-COVID, Huff recommended dental practice insurance coordinators talk to their reps about health fairs and other events that the reps would attend. “It’s a great way to have your doctor be able to speak to a group for a half-hour and get your name out there,” Huff explained. Now, dental insurance reps may need to get more creative. Definitely ask them how they’re reaching potential patients, Huff suggested.   ## Additional Resources [Colleen Huff’s website](http://colleenhuff.com/) [Colleen Huff’s Facebook page](https://www.facebook.com/Dentalinsurancecoach/) [Colleen Huff’s PPE Reimbursement Spreadsheet](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1g3iOq2b1fdF45L0iDKukNxYN7c6VfPV3aw2Fe2qBIH0/edit?fbclid=IwAR2v07Y831qU7A7YpEdDmQ9y6Znh3PPw7Ts82kMovcC8wwYWyKPliHdA0js#gid=0) [ADA COVID-19 Resources](https://success.ada.org/en/practice-management/patients/practice-resources?utm_source=cpsorg&utm_medium=covid-nav&utm_content=nav-practice-resources&utm_campaign=covid-19) For more interviews with experts, training resources, and guides, visit [Academy.PatientPrism.com](https://academy.patientprism.com/). 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We're committed to your privacy. Patient Prism uses the information you provide to us to contact you about our relevant content, products, and services.  You may unsubscribe from these communications at any time.  - Recent - Popular [Dental Practice Leadership](https://blog.patientprism.com/topic/dental-practice-leadership) ##### [Bulletproof: Patient Prism Equips Private Dentists to Compete with DSOs](https://blog.patientprism.com/bulletproof-patient-prism-equips-private-dentists-to-compete-with-dsos) [Dental Practice Leadership](https://blog.patientprism.com/topic/dental-practice-leadership) ##### [Bulletproof: Did a New Patient Call and Then Fail to Schedule? 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Patient Prism provides your front desk team or call center with the tools and coaching they need to book more new patients on the first phone call.  [![Schedule Demo](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/3321879/0b902015-8fd3-4970-b9f9-fd203c36af1c.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/3321879/0b902015-8fd3-4970-b9f9-fd203c36af1c) ### Related Posts - [by Deborah Bush](https://blog.patientprism.com/author/deborah-bush) - 6 min read #### [Bulletproof: Patient Prism Equips Private Dentists to Compete with DSOs](https://blog.patientprism.com/bulletproof-patient-prism-equips-private-dentists-to-compete-with-dsos) August 2023 In Bulletproof Dental Practice Podcast Episode 302, hosts Dr. Peter Boulden and Dr. Craig Spodak ask Patient... - ##### [Dental Practice Leadership](https://blog.patientprism.com/topic/dental-practice-leadership) - [by Deborah Bush](https://blog.patientprism.com/author/deborah-bush) - 4 min read #### [Bulletproof: Did a New Patient Call and Then Fail to Schedule? Reach Out!](https://blog.patientprism.com/bulletproof-new-dental-patient-fail-to-schedule-reach-out) August 2023 "If there is anything resounding that we have learned at Patient Prism, it is that reaching back out to offe... - ##### [Dental Practice Leadership](https://blog.patientprism.com/topic/dental-practice-leadership) - [by Deborah Bush](https://blog.patientprism.com/author/deborah-bush) - 6 min read #### [Bulletproof: There Is Actionable Intelligence in Your Calls](https://blog.patientprism.com/there-is-actionable-intelligence-in-your-calls) August 2023 In Bulletproof Dental Practice Podcast Episode 302, hosted by Dr. Peter Boulden and Dr. Craig Spodak, Patien... - ##### [Dental Practice Leadership](https://blog.patientprism.com/topic/dental-practice-leadership) [![Patient Prism Logo](https://blog.patientprism.com/hs-fs/hubfs/images/logos/PPLogo_eHed.png?width=274&height=79&name=PPLogo_eHed.png "Patient Prism Logo")](https://www.patientprism.com/) 2803 W Busch Blvd, Suite 201, Tampa, FL 33618 1-800-381-3638 PRODUCT - [Product](https://www.patientprism.com/product-overview/) - [Pricing](https://www.patientprism.com/pricing/) - [Affiliate Program](https://www.patientprism.com/affiliates-program/) TEAM - [About Us](https://www.patientprism.com/about/) - [Contact Us](https://www.patientprism.com/contact-us/) - [Support](https://support.patientprism.com/hc/en-us) - [In the News](https://www.patientprism.com/in-the-news/) SOLUTIONS - [DSO](https://www.patientprism.com/multi-group-solutions/) - [Private Dental Practice](https://www.patientprism.com/private-dental-practice-solutions/) - [Office Manager](https://www.patientprism.com/front-desk-solutions/) - [Marketing Manager](https://www.patientprism.com/marketing-manager-solutions/) RESOURCES - [Help Center](https://support.patientprism.com/hc/en-us) - [eBooks, guides, and charts](https://www.patientprism.com/guides-ebooks-and-charts/) - [Case Studies](https://www.patientprism.com/case-studies/) - [Blog](https://blog.patientprism.com/) - [Academy](https://academy.patientprism.com/) - [Privacy Policy](https://www.iubenda.com/privacy-policy/84700694) - [Accessibility](https://patientprism.com/accessibility/) - [Terms & Conditions](https://patientprism.com/terms/) Third-party trademarks, logos, and trade names appearing on the site are the property of their respective owners. Copyright Patient Prism®. 2020 All rights reserved. ![](https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/viewthroughconversion/834660133/?guid=ON&script=0) ![](https://dc.ads.linkedin.com/collect/?pid=150810&fmt=gif) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Colleen Huff, FAADOM", "url" : "https://blog.patientprism.com/author/colleen-huff" }, "dateModified" : "2023-07-17T19:21:06.920Z", "datePublished" : "2020-06-01T12:00:37.000Z", "headline" : "COVID-19's Impact on Dental Insurance", "image" : [ "https://blog.patientprism.com/hubfs/Blog/Featured%20Images/ColleenHuff.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.patientprism.com/covid-impact-dental-insurance", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.patientprism.com/hubfs/2024_Patient-Prism_Logo_Blue.png" }, "name" : "Patient Prism" } } ```