Dental Provider FAQ

Yes. Ameritas has special arrangements with companies who use our network. This enables Ameritas to advertise your practice to a wider range of groups, giving you exposure to more patients. Insured members will have an ID card that includes the Ameritas logo.

Log in to the Secure Provider Portal and go to the network section of the Resource Center for more information.

• Secure Provider
• Secure Provider (NY)

No. You will be reimbursed according to the contract fees in your area and for your specialty type. There are no monthly eligibility rosters or a referral process. This is a program that you will be able to integrate into your practice with ease.

A member always has a choice in selecting their own dental provider. However, by choosing a network provider, they can save on out-of-pocket expenses. Many insured members choose a network provider for these reasons.

They can visit our website and view the online provider directory. This website is updated on a daily basis and includes the names and locations of participating providers in the Ameritas PPO network.

Access the application packet in your Secure Provider account by selecting Other Links and Join Our Network from the right-hand menu. You can also request an application packet by contacting provider relations at 800-755-8844, ext. 88327 or providerrelations@ameritas.com.

No. Ameritas’ in-house provider relations team is responsible for credentialing each application received. A provider will be added to the dental network once all credentialing and quality assurance requirements are successfully completed. On average, most applications are processed within 10 – 14 business days.

Upon acceptance in the Ameritas Dental Network, you will receive a welcome letter along with a copy of your executed Ameritas Dental Agreement.

Ameritas offers several discounts on items that may be beneficial to your dental practice. Our reward programs provide savings on spore testing, dental software, eye protection and much more. View the Reward Programs available when you join the Ameritas network.

The provider relations team is happy to help.
800-755-8844, ext. 88327
Monday – Thursday: 6:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. CST
Friday: 6:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. CST

You will be paid based on your contract fees and the patient’s benefit plan.

Payments for claims by Ameritas PPO network providers will be made to the dental provider, based on contractual agreements.

Non-participating providers must submit an “Assignment of Benefits” with each claim to receive benefit payments directly. We also accept “Signature on File.” This applies to claims filed in the United States.

You do not need to use an Ameritas claim form. We accept any claim form that meets standard ADA guidelines. If you would like to use our claim form, download a copy here.

If you are considering participating in the Ameritas network, you may contact the provider relations team at 800-755-8844, ext. 88327.  

Once you are an active network provider, current fee schedules are available in your provider account under the network section of the Resource Center.

Ameritas contract fees are reviewed on an annual basis.

Our insured members always have a choice in selecting a dental provider.

However, choosing a network provider in the Ameritas Dental Network, where available, may help the member save on out-of-pocket expenses. Some plans offer higher benefit percentages, increased maximums, and/or reduced deductibles or copayments when treatment is performed by a network provider.

Therefore, we recommend that you and your patient contact us if you are unsure about how the choice of a network provider may impact benefits. For a description of the member’s plan, verify his or her benefit information:

• Secure Provider
• Secure Provider (NY)

Our insured members are not required to receive approval or obtain a referral from us to see a general dentist or specialist. Members are welcome to seek treatment from any provider of their choice.

If possible, we suggest you refer the member to an Ameritas participating provider to help the patient maximize his or her benefits. Some plans offer higher benefit percentages, increased maximums and/or reduced deductibles or copayments when treatment is performed by a participating provider.

Use our online provider directory to access our online list of participating providers. You may search for general dentists or a specific type of specialist.

There are many ways to find patient benefit information. You can go online to your secure provider account, call and request the information to be faxed to you, submit a pretreatment estimate, or request that your patient provide their certificate of coverage.

• Go online: Sign into your secure provider account and select the Member Information tab. In your provider account you can view detailed patient history, maximums, deductible, and claim information.
• Request a fax: Receive benefit summaries by fax:
  Call 800-487-5553 and press 1 for dental, then press 2 for providers. Enter the plan member’s identification number. Select 6 and enter your fax number.
• Submit a pretreatment estimate: We recommend that a pretreatment estimate be submitted for all anticipated work that is considered expensive by our insured members. For more information, visit How to Submit a Claim or Pretreatment Estimate.
• View the certificate: Ask the insured member to bring you his or her certificate of coverage, which outlines plan benefits and limitations. For schedule plans, the member’s certificate includes a list of the plan’s maximum allowances.

Pretreatment estimates are the best way to determine a member’s out-of-pocket expense. We recommend submitting pretreatment estimates for all anticipated work that is considered expensive by our insured members.

A pretreatment estimate is not a preauthorization or guarantee of payment or eligibility; rather it is an indication of the estimated benefits available if the described procedures are performed.

For more information, visit How to Submit a Claim or Pretreatment Estimate.

All services under our plans are covered when appropriately delivered through teledentistry services. They are subject to the same plan benefits and limitations as equivalent services that are not provided through teledentistry.

Sign into your secure provider account and select the Member Information tab.

Please review our Supporting Documentation Flyer. Feel free to print a copy for your office’s use.

Additional information about claim requirements is available on our How to Submit a Claim or Pretreatment Estimate page.

Electronic claims submission is a way for you to reduce some of the expenses associated with running your practice and a way for us to expedite claim processing.

• We process claims submitted electronically the day they are received.
• Electronic claims submission eliminates postage and envelope expenses.
• Electronic claims submission tracking eliminates lost claims and allows for immediate follow-up regarding transmission status.
• Many practice management systems allow entry of information once for both accounting and claims submission.
• Reduced transaction fees are available for participating providers of our PPO network.

1. Your office will need to have a system that is linked to a clearinghouse with software or internet access.
2. All electronic claims must be submitted through a clearinghouse.
3. Be sure to submit electronic claims under the same tax identification number that you would use on a paper claim. If you change this number with the IRS, please be sure to notify Ameritas of these changes.
4. To ensure that your electronic claim is processed properly, include the following information:
   • Name of the “treating” dentist
   • Tax Identification Number (or the dentist’s identification number)
   • Office address where services were performed

It is imperative that you include the above information even if you submit under a corporate business name.

Submit all claims electronically even if you think a claim needs an attachment. Ameritas will let you know if additional information is needed. Many claims can be processed using the narrative or claim remark field to provide replacement dates or pocket depths. Ameritas will accept up to 250 characters in this field.

The Ameritas Payor ID Number is 47009 and 72630 (NY).

We accept NEA attachments, Tesia eAttachments and DentalXChange electronic attachments.

View our electronic claims brochure for information on our contracted clearinghouses.

If you are having problems setting up your electronic claims capabilities or sending electronic claims, please contact your clearinghouse, vendor or billing service first. They can review your daily reports to identify any transmission errors and let you know if further research is needed.

You may also contact us at 800-487-5553.

Yes, claims not requiring X-ray films may be faxed to 402-467-7336.

You can mail claims to:

Group Claims
PO Box 82520
Lincoln, NE 68501-2520

Please see our Supporting Documentation Flyer for details on when to submit X-rays and/or other supporting documentation.

Yes, we accept claim forms that meet standard ADA guidelines. You do not need to use an Ameritas claim form. If you would like to use our claim form, download a copy here.

Log in to the Secure Provider Portal to access the summary.

• Secure Provider
• Secure Provider (NY)

Contact provider assistance at 800-366-5933, option 2.

Utilization review involves a set of guidelines designed to determine benefits by incorporating the dental policy limitations and coding as defined in the Current Dental Terminology© American Dental Association. We have established a utilization review program to ensure that any guidelines are used consistently, are clearly documented and include procedures for applying such criteria based on the documentation submitted. This criteria was developed with dental consultants who are licensed dentists. The program is reviewed on an annual basis to ensure that the guidelines are current with dental technology, evidence-based research and any dental trends.

During the review of submitted procedures, there may be a determination by a qualified and appropriately licensed dentist that the procedure(s) do not meet the contractual limitations as outlined in the specific dental policy and/or coding as defined in the Current Dental Terminology. When a claim has been denied or partially denied based on the contractual limitations of the dental policy and/or coding as defined in the Current Dental Terminology or an alternate benefit was recommended, this is considered an adverse determination.

Providers are responsible for the quality of dental services provided and the type of appropriate care to members. There is no financial incentive program that compensates you for ordering or providing less than medically necessary and appropriate care to your patients.

You must provide or arrange call coverage or other back-up 24 hours per day, seven days per week during vacations and/or other periods when your office might normally be closed; or make other arrangements for coverage at your expense.

You must offer appointments to all members upon request within a reasonable time. For non-emergency appointments other than exams, cleanings, and/or X-rays, a reasonable amount of time is no more than 30 days, unless state laws and regulations require that routine appointments for non-emergency care shall be available within a different time frame.