Your Dental Insurance, Accepted at Tend
Ballston
Great oral health shouldn’t come with surprise bills. At Tend Ballston, we're in‑network with most major plans, including:
- Delta Dental
- Metlife
- Cigna
- Aetna
- and more!
- Delta Dental
- Metlife
- Cigna
- United Concordia
- and more!
We're now accepting new patients in
Ballston
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Hassle-Free Billing and Coverage Checks
Transparent Pricing, Even with Insurance
At times, your final bill may differ from the quote. Why does this happen?
- Insurance may not cover 100% of services
- Co-pays and deductibles often apply
- Coverage limits or policy changes may affect your balance
At Tend, we'll walk you through everything, so you know what to expect.
Not using insurance? Here’s what costs to expect.
*We include a range because final cost can vary based on your location and the complexity of the treatment your dentist recommends.
Check your insurance
Curious if insurance will cover your exam? We can tell you in just a few seconds.
Unfortunately, there are some dental insurance plans we don’t accept, including Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, Healthplex, HMOs, DMOs, and others. If we don’t take yours, we’ll contact you ahead of your visit.
Most Insurance Accepted
Tend Ballston is located at 4201 Wilson Blvd in the Ballston Exchange development in Arlington, VA. We accept most major insurance plans and provide a modern and soothing space for a dental experience that feels effortlessly comfortable. Booking is fast and simple.
Meet our
Ballston
Dentists
Questions about insurance? We have answers. We accept most major insurance plans, including Delta Dental, Anthem, Care First, MetLife, Aetna, and Cigna. From verifying your coverage to explaining your copays, we make it simple to get the care you need without the added stress.
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Why people love Tend
Frequently asked questions
You can always check with your insurance company to find out what they are and how much they cover. However, the Tend insurance team can check for you and give you an exact break down. All we need is your Carrier name and subscriber ID.
In many instances, out of network benefits cover preventative services at 100%. Your exams and cleanings are considered preventive by Tend and your insurance! Give your info and we’ll tell you exactly what is covered and how much you’ll owe.
Being out of network simply means Tend does not have a direct contract with your insurance provider. It does not mean we don’t take your insurance. We take all major insurance except DHMOs, Medicaid, Healthplex, and Emblem. For those carriers that we do have a direct contract with, they have negotiated prices. When out of network we use the base price for the service and apply the coverage percentages that correspond to your out-of-network benefits to calculate what you’ll owe.
The basic premise of dental insurance is the same as other types of employer-provided insurance such as Medical and Vision. Most dental insurance is provided by your employer, has monthly premiums associated with that coverage, has guidelines on who you can see, and differences in benefits provided. The major difference with dental insurance is that the insurance provider has a yearly maximum they will reimburse, whereas a medical insurance provider covers reimbursement after the individual reaches their own out of pocket maximum.
Dental insurance works similarly to your medical insurance, with the main difference that the Insurance provider is responsible for “First Money Out”, meaning they cover up to a “Maximum Allowable” amount in a given benefit period (usually a year) and the patient is responsible for any amount over that limit. The Maximum Allowable amount is unique to your insurance plan and is important to know what it is when seeking more expensive care.
Further, as with Medical Co-Insurance, Dental PPO plans typically cover services based on ranges or categories: Preventive, Basic, and Major. As an example, most PPO coverages provide 100% coverage for Preventive services, 80% coverage on Basic, and 50% for Major. This breakout is plan-specific and you will need to consult your personal benefits to understand your coverage. What is not covered by your insurance is the patient’s responsibility.
Typically, dental insurance covers all types of dental care ranging from exams and cleanings (typically 2x / year), basic dental care (fillings, crowns, etc.) to oral surgery and orthodontics. Insurance categorize each type of care into Preventive, Basic, and Major services and each is covered at a determined percentage, leaving the remainng balance to the patient (typical breakouts are 100% / 80% / 50% for the coverage percents). Orthodontics are unique and typically have rules around age, who on your plan is allowed to use, and how much is offered (i.e. there is a lifetime max versus and annual amount).
A PPO is a “Preferred Provider Organization”. PPOs do not require you to choose a primary dentist, although one is recommended. You don’t need referrals to see specialist, either, but you will save money if you see on in your plan’s network. These differ from DHMO insurance plans that typically cover dental services at a low cost and minimal or no copayments with a pre-selected primary care dentist or a dentist facility with multiple dentists. You are required to select a Primary Dentist and are restricted to that Dentist unless otherwise referred to a specialist.
In most cases, two exams and cleanings in a calendar year.
$375
In most cases, yes. However, there are exceptions and rules that are important to know prior to your visit. For instance, an implant would not be covered if you were previously missing your tooth and your coverage includes a “Missing Tooth Clause”. At Tend, we can help you determine which rules are in place for your specific coverage.
In most cases, yes. Orthodontics are unique and typically have rules around age, who on your plan is allowed to use, and how much is offered (i.e. there is a lifetime max versus and annual amount). At Tend, we can tell you what rules are in place for you specific coverage.
