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I went to a new Dentist around one year ago because my old dentist retired. The Dentist diagnosed me with all these cavities, which I'm not sure I believe I really had thinking back on it - but that is besides the point.
The dentist then filled some of the cavities but without asking me he put in the white filling instead of the silver filling. I was not even aware that they had white fillings up until this point I had only gotten the silver.
My insurance covers only the silver filling 100% and white filling 50% The fillings were in the back so there was no reason I needed the white filling.
So needless to say I was pissed and I left without paying the 50% my insurance company didn't pay.
This dentist is constantly sending me mail about this $100 that I owe him.
Is it possible for this dentist to send this bill to the collection agency? Is there any way I can dispute this or take him to court?
If I have excellent credit how much would this hurt your credit score?
I really don't think it's worth risking your credit score at all for $100. In my opinion, it is the patient's responsibility to ask how much things are going to cost before getting the work done.
However, given that more and more employers are checking credit (which I think should be illegal for most positions), you might want to pay the $100 to keep your credit clean.
(And he did do the work, so you did get something for it, even if it's not what you wanted)
perhaps I can dispute this with the insurance company?
It's worth a try!
Good luck with that. I had a similar stupid problem with what insurance would pay when I had a mole removed about 20 years ago. They would pay for laser (expensive) but not for freezing (cheaper). Go figure.
I ended up having to pay $80 out of pocket. Lesson learned. Check in advance!
Odds are the dentist has no idea what your plan cover and what it doesn't, and in what percent.
S/He has front off staff that deal with the insurance companies, each plan and there are hundreds of them, have different pay rates, whats cover and whats not, and in what percent, co/pay deductibles etc.
You need to be assertive before they do the work, they can do a estimated insurance form, they file it (electronically) with your insurance company, they (Your Ins Comp) replies back what is covered and in what percents.
Then you can talk to the doctor about different options for lowering the costs if needed.
If I send them a check for something like $5 and say this is all I can afford at this time but I intend to pay and ask for a plan to be setup can they still send it to collections?
I just want to draw this out as long as possible because this dentist is a fraud and a con artist
Yes. In theory, they can do that with any amount less than the full balance. In practice, if you send $50, they might hold off. It depends on them. I know one dentist who just sent everything not paid in full by a certain time to collections. He just did. And then wrote that all off as bad debt on his taxes.
OP, I recommend you send him the money and then try to get it out of your insurance company.
But, yes, do you really want this situation annoying you the remainder of the summer? Be done with it.
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