Dental Insurance and Payment Options in Barrie
We direct bill most private dental insurance plans and the Canadian Dental Care Plan, and we explain your costs before any treatment starts.
Yonge Forest Dental direct bills most private dental insurance plans, as well as the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP). That means we send the claim to your insurer for you, and you pay only the part your plan does not cover. Before any treatment, Dr. Doowon Joo or Dr. Jessica Chau explains your options, and our front desk explains the cost.
Dental bills feel stressful when you cannot predict them. Our goal is simple: you should know what you will pay before you sit in the chair, not after.
Which dental insurance plans do you direct bill?
We direct bill most private dental insurance plans, including many plans through an employer, a union, a pension, or a spouse's or parent's workplace. Some employer plans do not allow the insurer to pay the dentist directly (see below). We also accept the Canadian Dental Care Plan.
Insurers our patients' plans come from include:
- Sun Life
- Manulife
- Canada Life
- GreenShield
- Blue Cross
- iA Financial Group (Industrial Alliance)
- Claim Secure
- Manion
- Group Health
- Co-operators
- Local 183 benefit plans
Do not see your insurer here? This is not a complete list. Call us at 249-888-2001 with your plan details and we will confirm we can bill it.
How does direct billing work?
Direct billing means Yonge Forest Dental sends your claim to your insurer electronically at the end of your visit. Your insurer replies within minutes with the amount it will pay. You pay only the remaining balance at the front desk, instead of paying the full fee and waiting for a refund. The whole process takes four steps.
Share your plan details
Give us your insurer, policy or group number, and ID or certificate number when you book or arrive.
We submit the claim
After your visit, we send the claim to your insurer electronically.
Your insurer replies
Most insurers reply right away with the amount they will pay for each service.
You pay the balance
You pay your share by debit or credit card. We give you a receipt for your records.
Some employer plans do not allow the insurer to pay the dentist directly. If yours is one of them, you pay at the visit and we give you what you need to claim the money back.
What will I pay at my appointment?
What you pay depends on your plan's design, not just the treatment. Most dental plans pay a percentage of each service, often a higher share for checkups and cleanings than for crowns or dentures. Your share also depends on any deductible, your yearly maximum, and how often your plan pays for each service.
Four plan rules decide most of your bill:
- Coverage percentage: the share of each fee your plan pays. Preventive care often has the highest share.
- Deductible: a set amount some plans ask you to pay each year before coverage starts.
- Annual maximum: the most your plan pays in a benefit year. Larger treatment can reach it.
- Frequency limits: how often the plan pays for a service, such as one checkup every six or nine months.
If you are unsure about your plan, bring your benefits booklet or log in to your insurer's member site. Our team can help you read it.
How are dental fees set in Ontario?
Yonge Forest Dental follows the Ontario dental fee guide, which lists a suggested fee for each dental service. We do not publish prices on our website, because the right treatment and its cost depend on your exam. Instead, your dentist explains your options and our team gives you an estimate of the cost before any treatment starts.
Many insurance plans also base their payments on the fee guide. When your plan uses an older edition of the guide, or pays less than 100 percent, you may owe a small difference. We show you that difference in your estimate, so you can decide with the full picture.
Can I check my coverage before treatment?
As long as the insurance information is provided to us ahead of time, our team will check your coverage on your behalf. Before we start any treatment, our team goes over what the plan pays and what, if anything, you would pay yourself.
Ways to pay and payment arrangements
Yonge Forest Dental accepts debit and credit cards for the balance after insurance. If you do not have insurance, you pay for each visit as you go, and we give you an estimate first. For larger treatment plans, your dentist sets up payment arrangements with you individually, based on your treatment and your situation.
We do not offer fixed financing terms. Instead, your dentist talks through the timing of treatment with you. Sometimes care can be spread over several visits, with the most urgent work first. That can help you match treatment to your benefits year or your budget.
What if I do not have dental insurance?
You can still see us without dental insurance. You pay for each visit as you go, by debit or credit card, and we give you an estimate before any treatment. If your household income is under $90,000 and nobody in the family has dental coverage, check whether you qualify for the Canadian Dental Care Plan before you book.
Without insurance, regular checkups and cleanings matter even more. Small problems found early cost less to treat than a tooth that has been left to get worse. If you need several treatments, your dentist can help you put them in order, so the most urgent care comes first.
Do you accept government dental programs?
Yes, we accept the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) and bill it directly. CDCP is the federal program for residents with an adjusted family net income under $90,000 and no access to dental insurance. We do not accept the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) or Ontario Works dental benefits.
To learn who qualifies, what CDCP covers and what you pay, read our page on using the Canadian Dental Care Plan in Barrie. It explains the income tiers and the services that need approval first.
What to bring for insurance billing
Bring your insurance details to every first visit, and tell us whenever your plan changes. For a private plan, we need the insurer's name, your policy or group number, and your ID or certificate number. If the plan is through a spouse or parent, bring the plan member's name, date of birth and employer as well.
If you have two plans, for example your own and your spouse's, bring details for both. We can often bill the second plan for the amount the first one does not cover. For CDCP, bring your member details. Our first visit guide lists everything else to bring.
Why patients use their benefits with us
Using your dental benefits should be simple. Here is what that looks like at our Barrie office.
Most private plans billed directly
You pay only your share at the visit. We handle the claim with your insurer.
Estimates before treatment
You see the cost, and what your plan pays, before you agree to any treatment.
CDCP accepted
Households without insurance can use the Canadian Dental Care Plan here too.
Hours outside the workday
We are open until 8 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays, and on Saturday mornings from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Using your dental benefits in Barrie
To book, call Yonge Forest Dental at 249-888-2001 or request an appointment online. Our office is at 681 Yonge St, Barrie, with free parking behind the building and a single-level, wheelchair-accessible layout. We see patients from across Barrie and Innisfil.
Have a question about your plan before you book? Call us with your insurance details, and our front desk will help you understand what your plan covers. Dr. Joo, Dr. Chau and the team look forward to seeing you.
Insurance questions
Do I have to pay up front and claim it back?
Usually not. We direct bill your insurer, so you pay only your share at the visit. The exception is an employer plan that does not allow payment to the dentist. In that case you pay the full fee, and we give you what you need to send the claim yourself.
Does dental insurance cover cosmetic treatment?
Most plans cover little or no purely cosmetic treatment, such as teeth whitening. Some plans pay part of a crown or bonding when it repairs damage. We can send a predetermination before treatment, so you know what your plan will pay.
Can I use two dental plans?
Yes. If you have coverage through your own plan and a spouse's plan, we can bill both. The second plan often pays part of what the first one leaves. Bring the details for both plans to your visit.
Book Your Visit
We're happy to answer questions, verify insurance, or set up your first appointment. Call us or use the form.
- Address: 681 Yonge St, Barrie, ON L9J 0K1
- Phone: 249-888-2001
- Email: info@yongeforestdental.com
Ready to book your visit?
Request an appointment online or call 249-888-2001.