Dental costs even with Insurance

**NetSkyBlue** · 04-03-2012, 07:04 AM

If you know you will be having upcoming dental expenses, it's a good idea to put the money in a flexible spending plan if your employer offers one. Or an HSA, where the money doesn't have to be used within a particular time frame.

**jpg7n16** · 04-03-2012, 07:12 AM

I would go to your dentist and ask for a referral to someone who could do this 1 procedure for insurance coverage.

The whole point of insurance is to save you from paying larger bills (like root canal).

You don't want to change your dentist completely, just do what's best medically.

**johna** · 04-03-2012, 08:00 AM

My husband carries the health insurance, but I picked up extra dental coverage from my employer. I was glad that I did when my daughter needed a filling, the cost of the white filling was covered at 100%. The cost of dental work is crazy!

**cypher1** · 04-03-2012, 08:27 AM

That is correct with crown considered "cosmetic" from insurance plan. At least mine was, with Delta Dental. I learned the hard way a couple years back with dental work. Hadn't gone since college so 9 years out, and never had a cavity before. I had to do a cerec (spell?)crown along with some cavities due to deep nerves almost exposed, yet had no pain. The cerec alone was 1100 out of pocket. I should've just waited till the next enrollment for opening a HSA/FSA for better planning. I think I ended up paying almost 2000 out of pocket. Expensive lesson, but at the same time it was long over due.

Do you actually have pain in the tooth right now? Or was it just brought up that you should do? If there is pain, obviously plan on getting it done soon. If no pain, it wouldn't hurt to get a second opinion on the matter.

**BudgetSurgeon** · 04-03-2012, 01:45 PM

I have found that here in NY, with Dental Insurance prohibitively costly, a discount Dental plan offers me the best bang for the buck. And the nature of that business is very competitive, so you can negotiate on the fee-based plan premiums. I use EDP Dental here on Long Island, and I find them to be the best around.

**DRILLINDK** · 04-03-2012, 07:15 PM

Sorry to hear about your situation. Unfortunately, it's comes down to how much is that tooth worth to you. No dentist ever wants to pull a tooth when it can be saved. I would advise you to save the tooth if you can afford it financially.

Whether you want your current dentist perform the procedures or go somewhere else is your choice. I can tell you that you get what you pay for, just like anything else in society. Dental offices are already writing off anywhere from 20-30% just by accepting your insurance. You may pay more out of pocket depending on the contract between the insurance company and the dentist.

One unfortunate issue I would like to point out is that the low cost/cheaper fees you pay are incurred at the cost of the dentist/dental office. The dentist will cover his/her cost by using lower quality materials, rushing through procedures, and even cutting corners. I know colleagues who accept every insurance possible. They are force to send their crowns to China to be fabricated. Who knows what materials those crowns are fabricated out of.

Moral of the story, by accepting your insurance your dentist is already providing you with a discount. If he doesn't accept your insurance then choose your new dentist wisely or work out a payment plan with your dentist ( I do this all the time...I even offer 3rd party financing via Care Credit).

**ecoadapt** · 04-03-2012, 07:43 PM

I would go to your dentist and ask for a referral to someone who could do this 1 procedure for insurance coverage.

This would be a better move. I believe your dentist could refer you to someone.

The whole point of insurance is to save you from paying larger bills (like root canal).

Absolutely. That's the main point of insurance to save one from paying larger bills.

**PetMom** · 04-04-2012, 04:11 AM

Drilllinkd thank you for that info.

I asked our dhmo (the cheapest plan we got) dentist about their office procedures and hmo's.

She told me flat out they take a loss on each patient. They stay in business because that hmo will send them clients. I told her I did not understand how the made a profit - then got sort of wondering later. She said it was getting more guaranteed patients and no doubt rushing them through.

Your explanation makes even more sense.

Budgetsurgeon that is a good idea to bargain for better rates - I called Dental Quick and just passively listened to their rates. They are recommended but they want that access to a charge/debit card to get their premium every month.

WHAT WAS DECIDED:

My excellent, worth every penny dentist will do the actual root canal and then in a few more weeks as we go in super budget mode will work on the crown. They put a temporary safe covering over it.

Also: you can have a tooth pulled and get a bridge or an implant (not covered by a lot of insurance companies) later.

Again if not for an EF and the ability to do 'red alert' budgeting I would be having to settle for tooth pulling.

And this dhmo will most likely not be our choice next time around.

Care Credit or Citi Health were mentioned as options (they offer this type of thing with emergency vet rooms).

Just not ready to owe money, but would have to do so if not any ef. Thanks for mentioning the other one so others know about these specific credit loans.

**DRILLINDK** · 04-04-2012, 05:48 AM

PetMom,

If you qaulify for CareCredit, then I would recommend financing the procedures with that. With CareCredit, you are basically taking out a loan to pay for your treatmnet. This is a win-win. Win for the dentist because he get his money with no risk of default. All he does is basically pay the interest on the loan for you and also a percentage of loan. Win for you because you receive the treatment you urgently need without demininshign your EF. You pay no interest on the loan (its covered by the dentist).

If your leary about taking a loan out/being in debt I would recommend taking enought of a loan to cover the cost of the root canal. Once you have that loan paid off, then take out another one for the crown, or whatever else your dentist recommends.

Bridges and implants are good alternatives, however nothing is as good as what nature/God has created. I would only recommend bridges and implant as a last resort.

Hope all this helps.

**DRILLINDK** · 04-04-2012, 05:57 AM

The whole point of insurance is to save you from paying larger bills (like root canal).

Absolutely. That's the main point of insurance to save one from paying larger bills.

Actually, this is a common misconception. Dental insurance differs from life or health insurance. Dental insurance is more like a benefits plan than insurance. Meaning, you pay a premium and receive an allowance per year. One the allowance has been exceeded, you are responsible for the balance. This allowance has not been increase since the early 1970's...reguardless of inflation and rising costs. Back in the 70's a crown would cost on average of $200-$300 with perhaps $1300 in dental benefits (allowance). Today, crowns cost anywhere from $1000-1500 with $1500 in benefits. Dental insurance is not your friend and it is definatly not like other insurances.

Dental insurances are a Company, and every year they make record profits. They stear you down the road of treatment that makes sense for their bottom line and spreedsheets. That may not always be what's right for you.

**LivingAlmostLarge** · 04-04-2012, 06:37 PM

Also get a crown or bridge because teeth can close the gap of the pulled tooth and cause a bad bite. Cost more to fix that problem then the initial problem. Bad bite can cause headaches and tmg symptoms. It happened to an aunt.

Crowns here cost around $1500.

**PetMom** · 04-05-2012, 08:29 AM

I am glad I had checked here with this situation.

I got a lot of great info but have continued to learn more.

Correct: dental insurance is not your friend.

I did go to dentist and got an xray and it is an old root canal with decay - needs pulling next week. That is easy and doable: $175 plus the $80.00 for the xray. Doable only because we have our deflated ef (many would have trouble coming up with even that amount of money in this economy).

I am so glad this forum pushes the ef which I was already doing.

I need a bridge done and was priced by some dentists that do not take the dhmo's $4,000.00.

We have some time after it is pulled to save for this bridge.

Found out our cigna ppo (or out of network dr. selection) will only pay $1,000.00 per year on any procedure! I had to keep asking 'you mean the deductible is 1,000.00 - no it is all they pay. And they charge each month where you wonder if it is even worth it.

The Care Credit has been mentioned by some dental staffs. We just do not want any loan or debt. We are debt free and insist on staying that way. (We only owe about $1,500 on an air conditioner and of course, our mortgage).

Our FSA or setting aside money for medical in account through work is gone if you do not use it up in the year - they keep it.

The private plan, Dental Quick sounded good and was recommended by one office, then another office had never even heard of it.

Just a few years ago I had a root canal went in it was maybe a thousand, handed them the insurance card and paid only half.

It has all changed now.

**$ hoarder** · 04-15-2012, 04:56 PM

Try edentalsolutions.com. You can buy a discount program to get dental services at a discount for a small monthly fee. You can also negotiate dental fees with the office.

**PetMom** · 04-16-2012, 08:10 AM

Had the procedure done.

Now am just leaving it alone for a long time.

I have asked around and it seems to be with a few
people a little secret that they let a tooth or so
be pulled and do not replace it.

We have a dhmo which is looking better and is used
by most of the city workers even higher ups that
would be able to afford the high rates.

Going to try him, can always go back.

Dental costs even with Insurance