2 upvotes, 0 direct replies (showing 0)
I'm in Canada and I'm pretty sure my dental claims are processed in < 2 minutes - I've just never felt the need to time it. The process is always, I walk up to the receptionist after my cleaning, they confirm the insurance details they have on file for me, they charge my credit card for the full amount of the services, then they print my invoice from their clinic showing it's all paid, and then they'll also print the insurance claim sheet. I'd say a good portion of the time, the sheet will show whether it's been approved and the amount they're paying. Occasionally it's not done instantly, but I think it's because it's outside their normal processing hours.
I don't know why the insurance website / system has processing hours, but it's never been a painful issue for me, especially not for routine cleaning / recall exams. Even fillings are approved without issue, it's normally only more complex work that requires a predetermination that might require more information before approval.
I have no issue with paying the full amount up front and being reimbursed by insurance within a few days. Some insurance plans have the option to directly pay the dental clinic and you pay the difference. It's not a big deal for me, but the option is there, incase people can't front the cost or whatnot.
There's nothing here!