Let me ask you something, doctor.

If a patient handed you $1,000 and said,
“Hey, I’m going to keep $50 of this… just because,”

Would you smile and say, “Thank you so much for the opportunity?”

Of course not.

And yet many practices are quietly losing 1.5% to 5% of their revenue every single day just to receive money that is already theirs.

Welcome to one of my least favorite insurance games:

Virtual Credit Cards (VCCs).

The Sneaky Math Nobody Talks About

Here’s how it works.

Instead of sending:

• A paper check
• Or an EFT directly to your bank

The payer sends you a one time use credit card number.

You process it.
You get paid.
And then merchant processing fees hit your account.

On a $10,000 claim?

You could lose up to $500.

Not because of write offs.
Not because of downgrades.
Not because of bundling.

Just because you wanted your money.

Let that sink in.

Why Would They Do This?

Let’s be honest.

This isn’t about convenience. It’s about margins.

Many carriers receive financial incentives or revenue sharing arrangements from card processors. The more providers who accept VCCs, the more profitable it becomes.

Translation?

They shrink your reimbursement and get paid for it.

It’s like they’re saying:

“Thanks for the root canal. We’ll take 4% for the privilege of paying you.”

That’s not administration.

That’s a silent tax.

And Here’s the Scary Part

Most teams don’t even notice.

The front desk sees:

“Payment received.”

The ledger balances.

Everyone moves on.

Meanwhile, thousands of dollars leak out the back door over the course of a year.

You audit production.
You audit collections.
You audit write offs.

But are you auditing how you’re being paid?

The Good News: This Is Optional

Read that again.

Virtual Credit Cards are not mandatory.

You can opt out.

Here’s your playbook:

1. Audit Your EOBs

Look for language like:

• “Payment via virtual card”
• “Card remittance”
• “Electronic card payment”

If you see it, you’re paying merchant fees.

2. Contact the Payer

Call provider services and request:

• EFT enrollment
• Or reversion to paper check

They may “encourage” the VCC option.
Encouragement is not requirement.

3. Be Persistent

Some payers don’t make it easy.
Shocking, I know.

But this is your revenue.
Not theirs to skim.

Let’s Put It in Perspective

You work hard to negotiate:

• 10% fee increases
• 15% PPO improvements
• 20% umbrella network corrections

And then a VCC quietly takes 3 to 5% right back.

That’s like training for a marathon and voluntarily starting five miles behind the starting line.

Why fight insurance with one hand tied behind your back?

At Veritas, We Call This What It Is

An unnecessary tax on quality care.

You went to school for years.
You invested hundreds of thousands of dollars.
You built a team.
You serve patients with integrity.

You shouldn’t lose 5% just to get paid.

Final Question for You

Is your team seeing more virtual cards lately?

Because if you are, it’s not random.

And if you’re not auditing payment method, you might be funding someone else’s bonus program without even knowing it.

Benjamin Tuinei
Founder – Veritas Dental Resources, LLC
📞 888-808-4513
Services: PPO Fee Negotiators, PPO Fee Negotiating, Insurance Fee Negotiating, Insurance Credentialing, Insurance Verifications
Websites: www.VeritasDentalResources.com, www.VerusDental.com