---
title: "What Is Balance billing? Dental Glossary | Town Center Dental"
description: "Balance billing is when a provider bills you for the gap between the provider's charge and the amount your plan allows."
url: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/balance-billing
publisher: Town Center Dental
phone: +1-636-273-5866
quote: https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment
---

Insurance and Billing

# Balance billing

Balance billing is when a provider bills you for the gap between the provider's charge and the amount your plan allows.

Balance billing is when a provider bills you for the difference between the provider's charge and the allowed amount. HealthCare.gov gives an example: if the charge is higher than the allowed amount, the provider may bill you for the remaining part.

A preferred provider may not balance bill you for covered services. The problem mostly arises with an [out-of-network dentist](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/out-of-network-dentist), who has not agreed to the plan's rates. NADP says this occurs when a provider is not in network.

Before treatment, ask the dental office for an estimate, and ask your plan how it treats out-of-network care. The [UCR fee](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/usual-customary-and-reasonable-ucr-fee) the plan uses can be lower than the dentist's fee. See [in-network dentist](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/in-network-dentist) and EOB.

## Related terms

-   [Out-of-network dentist](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/out-of-network-dentist)
-   [In-network dentist](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/in-network-dentist)
-   [Usual, customary and reasonable (UCR) fee](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/usual-customary-and-reasonable-ucr-fee)
-   [Explanation of benefits (EOB)](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/explanation-of-benefits-eob)
-   [Fee schedule](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/glossary/fee-schedule)

## Sources

1.  [HealthCare.gov Glossary: Balance Billing](https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/balance-billing/)
2.  [HealthCare.gov Glossary: Balance Billing](https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/balance-billing/)

## Ready when you are

[Request an appointment](https://towncenterdental.multisites.ai/request-appointment)[Call (636) 273-5866](tel:+1-636-273-5866)