I think for the most part, most of us just do what we are told. If we are told to pay a bill we do it. We figure it is correct and owed, so we whip out the check book or atm card and part with our hard earned cash.
At the end of every year, those of us fortunate enough to have insurance through work, have to make the decision to choose or stay the same with how we are covered. this past year, I was told I needed to replace the bridge in my mouth that had been there for about twenty years. Well, my dental now covered 50% of implants, so I chose to purchase the enhanced plan. I looked up the preferred provider to get the best prices and made and appointment.
The first appointment went pretty well, it was a female dentist and I sorta liked that. They did leave me sitting in the office for most of the two hours I was there, but I figured it was a fluke and wouldn't happen again. I made the next appointment for a cleaning, cus no matter what, they always say your teeth need to be cleaned. So at the next appointment, I was told I had to pay 100.00, cus the insurance didn't cover part of the procedure. I questioned this, but figured It would be corrected by the next appointment when they had more time to fully get to realise they were a preferred provider, and I was covered.
The next appointment I went in there knowing I wasn't going to pay the extra again. Again, I was told I owed, but this time it was 165.00. I told them I wasnt going to pay it, just don't do that part. they told me they couldn't do that, there was a long conversation and in the end, I walked out, not paying, cus they did nothing. When I got home, i called the insurance company and told them what I just experienced. I felt like I was being cheated and ripped off.
I am leaving out a whole lot of this, cus that would have been a Trishy novel. In the end, I am going back to my old dentist, filing a complaint with the insurance company, and I am going to report them to the ADA maybe. They gave me an estimate before insurance of almost $12000.00 Each implant was 4000.00, when the insurance dictates they charge 1465.00. yes folks, i was pissed.
This is the first time I have questioned what I am asked to pay. I am tired of being taken advantage of. I am so proud of myself, and I recommend if you are told you have to pay every time you go to the dentist, find out what you are really covered for.
Ok, that is it for now. Hope you have a great weekend.
Bravo for fighting back! I think there are alot of industries ready to take advantage of consumers, and dentists are no different. Infact, I think it is getting harder and harder to find a good dentist. When Oni was 4 I took her to a dentist that told me she needed some apparatus in her mouth because her mouth was too narrow, or something like that. It was expensive! Almost 1000.00, which I didn't have. I was so torn, becaue the dentist told me that if I didn't do it, Oni would never bite right and would have further complications which would be my fault. I told him I needed to think about it, so I started talking to friends to see what they thought. Lo and behold, turns out this dentist recommends this thing for just about every patient he had!! Apparently every kid in the world had too narrow of mouths. Right, whatever. I didn't do the procedure. Not only that, but he did some dental work on Oni. Also very expensive. 800.00 dollars. Turns out he did the work incorrectly and her tooth died as a result. That in turn cost me another 800 with another dentist to have the problem he caused fixed. But I finally found an honest dentist, and I can not tell you how nice it was!! Glad you stood up for yourself!! Have a great weekend! :)
ReplyDeletenow you need to not throw a tantrum ... you just need to look at them and say :P~~~~~~~ and walk out like I would ... good for you ....
ReplyDeleteLisa's getting implants? OK - so I speedread it the first time - now I understand. Good for you - the insurance rules are complicated (particularly for dental coverage) and we can't just trust that the dentists office is right.
ReplyDeleteI am sooo proud of you for sticking to your guns! :)
ReplyDeleteok, can i say i have implants after this is done?? and for half price?
ReplyDeleteI thought the idea was for people to think they were all yours? But if you want to advertise your implants, who am I to stop you, lol.....
ReplyDeleteIf you really can get implants for 1465 each - I'm thinking maybe I should skip a vacation and get some work done myself ;).
I wish they would just consider teeth part of the body and cover them under health insurance.....wait....they are part of the body...right? lol
ReplyDeleteGOOD FOR YOU, LISA!!! sounds like they were trying to rip you off, I'm glad you fought back!