Quick Summary
Patients at Merry Dental in Billerica pay for care in one of three ways. Dental insurance, where we accept over 200 plans and verify your coverage before your first visit. The Merry Dental Plan, an in-office discount program for patients without insurance. Or CareCredit, a third-party healthcare credit card used for costs a plan does not cover.
The cost conversation is the one patients most often put off having, and putting it off is usually what makes treatment more expensive later. At Merry Dental in Billerica there are three routes patients use to pay for care: dental insurance, our own Merry Dental Plan, and CareCredit. They are not alternatives to each other so much as answers to different situations. Here is what each one is.
1. Dental Insurance
Merry Dental accepts over 200 dental insurance plans, including Delta Dental, MetLife, BlueCross BlueShield, Guardian, Cigna, Aetna, Altus, Assurant and United Concordia among others. If you do not see your plan on our insurance and financing page, call the office and we will confirm whether we accept it.
We are out of network with a limited number of plans. That is worth asking about rather than assuming, because out-of-network fees may be similar to in-network fees, and in some cases less.
The part most patients find useful is that we will verify your coverage before your first visit rather than at the desk afterwards. You arrive already knowing what your plan contributes.
2. The Merry Dental Plan
The Merry Dental Plan is a discount program, not dental insurance. That distinction matters, so it is worth stating plainly before anything else. It is an in-office plan for a yearly fee, aimed at patients who have no dental insurance.
What it removes is the machinery: no yearly maximums, no deductibles, no claims, no treatment waivers. Membership covers preventative care in full, including a new patient comprehensive exam, two periodic exams a year, diagnostic x-rays at the first visit, two adult or child cleanings a year, and two fluoride treatments a year. It also carries a 15% discount on restorative and other procedures, including fillings, crowns and bridges, extractions, dentures, dental implants, periodontal treatment, sealants, additional cleanings and cosmetic procedures.
Membership is available as single adult, second family member, or additional members, and family members must live in the same household. It runs for one year and is renewed annually. The current fees and the full list of exclusions are on the Merry Dental Plan page.
3. CareCredit
CareCredit is a third-party healthcare credit card used to finance healthcare-related costs. It offers special financing options that are not available on an ordinary Visa or MasterCard, and patients typically use it for a deductible, or for treatment a plan does not cover.
It is most relevant to larger treatment plans. Our post on what dental implants cost explains why implant treatment has no single price, and a payment arrangement is often what makes the difference between having that conversation now and postponing it.
Which One Applies to You
Broadly: if you have dental insurance, start there and let us verify it. If you have none, the Merry Dental Plan is designed for exactly that situation. If you have coverage but a specific treatment falls outside it, CareCredit covers the gap.
None of the three changes the clinical recommendation. What they change is the sequencing, and sequencing is usually the real obstacle.
The Cheapest Dentistry Is the Dentistry You Do Not Need
It is worth saying, because it is true and because it is easy to lose sight of when the conversation is about money. As our post on regular dental visits puts it, skipping an appointment means missing the chance to catch problems early and handle them before they reach the stage of expensive procedures. Preventative care is covered in full under the Merry Dental Plan and is covered by most insurance plans, which makes it the least costly part of dentistry and the part most worth keeping.
If you are unsure what your plan covers, or whether the Merry Dental Plan would suit your household, call the office on 978-404-5400 or request an appointment and we will go through it with you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Merry Dental Plan dental insurance?
No. The Merry Dental Plan is a discount program, not a dental insurance plan. It cannot be used in conjunction with another dental plan or dental insurance. No insurance is billed and no claims are submitted under it.
What does the Merry Dental Plan cover in full?
Membership covers a new patient comprehensive exam, two periodic exams a year, diagnostic x-rays at the first visit, two adult cleanings and two child cleanings a year, and two fluoride treatments a year. Restorative and cosmetic procedures carry a 15% discount rather than full coverage.
Do you take my insurance?
Merry Dental accepts over 200 dental insurance plans, including Delta Dental, MetLife, BlueCross BlueShield, Guardian, Cigna, Aetna, Altus, Assurant and United Concordia. If your plan is not listed on our insurance and financing page, call the office to confirm. We are out of network with a limited number of plans, where fees may be similar or even less.
Will I know my coverage before my first visit?
Yes. We verify insurance coverage prior to your first visit, so you know what your plan contributes before you arrive rather than finding out at the desk afterwards.
What is CareCredit used for?
CareCredit is a third-party healthcare credit card that helps finance healthcare-related costs, with special financing options not available on a standard Visa or MasterCard. Patients typically use it to cover a deductible, or to pay for treatments and procedures that insurance does not cover.
How long does Merry Dental Plan membership last?
Membership is valid for one year and must be renewed annually. Fees are due on signing day, no refunds are issued, and family members enrolled together must live in the same household.
Merry Dental, 337 Boston Rd, Billerica, MA 01821. 978-404-5400. Serving Billerica, Lowell, Chelmsford, Tewksbury, Burlington and Bedford.