Tips on comparing EOB's and Dental Statements...

Wait for your Delta Dental of Arizona explanation of benefits (EOB) before you respond to any dental office bills. If it has been more than 30 days since your treatment was performed, please contact your dental office to determine whether/when the claim for reimbursement was submitted to Delta Dental of Arizona.

• Determine what was covered by insurance and what Delta Dental of Arizona claims you owe.
• Refer back to your insurance coverage as reflected in your benefit booklet to be sure that the deductible and co-payment amounts that were applied are correct.
• Compare the dates and charges between the bills and Delta Dental of Arizona’s EOB. If the EOB or the bills aren't clear, ask for verbal explanation in terms you can understand by calling your dental office.
• Look for charges that are obviously wrong, including procedures or x-rays you know you didn't have.
• You can request your dental records to see if you received the care you are being billed for.

No matter how hard you tried to control your dental costs, you may still be surprised by your bills. But don't assume they're always right, especially if you're paying out-of-network. Look at the itemized statement from the dentist, it may not be easy to understand but if, for example, you see a charge for an injection and you know you had only x-rays then something is wrong.

Common errors include...

• Incorrect dates of service - make sure you're not being charged for treatment on the day you know that you were at work.
• Any charges for services that are inclusive of a procedure, such as fees for infection control.
• Duplicate fees for tests and procedures.
• Human errors-one mistaken keystroke could result in the wrong billing code.
• Inflated anesthesia time-your dentist should have an exact record of when your surgery began and ended.

Whether your dentist is in-network or out-of-network, you should still examine your EOB for errors. Even though Delta Dental of Arizona may have covered an incorrect cost, no one should pay for a service they didn't receive. And, you likely have a benefit year cap on coverage and you don't want to chip away at that if you need it for a serious condition down the road.