{ business solutions } Missouri Dental Insurance Solutions


Don’t Assume Protection Close insurance gaps; protect yourself and your practice


by JERRI WILDHABER


Every day at MDIS we get calls asking us, “is it covered if” …


• I work at this location one time for one day?


• I fill in for this dentist while they are on vacation for 10 days?


• I volunteer at an event this weekend? • I am overseeing hygiene checks while the dentist down the street is on mater- nity leave?


• I work on a mobile unit once a month and it’s a different location every time?


• I buy a new piece of equipment for my office?


• I started placing implants, or providing Botox, or … (insert any new procedure you’re now doing)?


… and the list goes on. Our typical answer is “it depends” because in all honesty, it does depend on a variety of factors:


• Did you notify the agent or the carrier of any changes?


• Did you increase your limit to accom- modate the increase in property value when you purchased new equipment?


• Did you even consider how a practice location, a new purchase or changes in procedures may affect your insurance policy(s)?


More often than not, we receive calls well after the fact. Here are a couple of examples:


“I filled in for Dr. Smith while he was out on vacation back in January and one of the patients I saw during that time has an issue and are asking for their files, I have coverage for that don’t I?” If no practice location change form was submitted to request the change to your


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coverage, when a claim is submitted, it will be up to the carrier if coverage is extended.


“I moved to a new practice location last May, and I have storm damage to my building, is that covered?” A change request to update the practice location needs to be submitted for the carrier to evaluate the risk your policy has been protecting. Without the change re- quest, it will be up to the carrier to determine if coverage will be extended.


Too often we hear “I thought my policy would cover me wherever I am, or regardless of what equipment I buy.” Never assume you have coverage — always confirm. Do this by asking specific questions:


• Is my location at 1234 Main Street, Jefferson City, MO covered under my policy?


• I purchased a new piece of equipment, are my current limits adequate in the event of a total loss to my practice?


• Am I covered if I fill in for a dentist while she is out on maternity leave?


• Or simply asking, do I need to update my coverage if … ?


As the named insured of any insurance policy, you are responsible for updating the carrier of any material changes and there are clauses within your policy contract that state this.


If you buy a new car you must provide proof of insurance to renew the license plates on it and you update your agent/carrier with the info on your newly acquired vehicle, correct? The same premise applies for any other policy you hold; you need to update the agent/carrier of a material change, and they can confirm coverage and notify you if said change will affect your premium.


As your agent, it is our job to help close in- surance gaps by helping you protect yourself and your practice. We don’t want you to be without coverage simply because you failed to notify us of a change to your practice or procedures. Therefore, we send a renewal email with a list of questions with the hope of prompting you to update us with any changes that may have been overlooked since your last renewal.


However, you do not have to wait until your policies renew to question coverage, and we actually advise against waiting until your renewal. Call MDIS anytime to review your policies, ask questions and see what we can do to help! As they say, you know what hap- pens when one assumes …


Jerri Wildhaber is a licensed agent and MDIS Operations Director. Contact her at 800-944-7550 or info@mdis4dds.com.


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