After inputting claim information, your office "sends" the data through a modem (which connects the computer to telephone lines) to an electronic claims clearinghouse. The clearinghouse collects your claim information, screens it for proper format and missing information, and delivers it to an electronic "mailbox" for daily pickup by Delta Dental’s computer system. A claim error (e.g., no Social Security number) is transmitted back to the dentist by the clearinghouse. If the claim contains no errors, the clearinghouse can transmit the claim to Delta Dental.

Delta Dental’s computer receives the claim so it can be stored and processed and generates an acknowledgment to the clearinghouse for the dentist. The clearinghouse provides you with status reports through your office computer. These reports indicate whether additional information is needed, and enable you to verify that your claims have reached Delta Dental. From start to finish, the entire process takes approximately 48 hours.