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Last weekend, I found myself in a stressful situation. I had a horrible toothache causing my entire left jaw to ache and throb. I even started to wonder if I would need to see an emergency dentist. Thankfully, the pain went away and has been gone since then for the most part. I fear going to the dentist, not because of the treatment, but because of the bill. I currently have no insurance and was kicking myself last weekend for not getting on the ball and getting some coverage.
But when I started looking at policies online again, now I remember why I never really jumped on this. First, my employer dental coverage is crap. About $240 a year to just cover cleanings and emergency extractions. Root canals and crowns, you're on your own. IT would actually cost me less to pay out of my pocket. Most of the policies I found online only covered services at 30% - 50% at best. Plus a 6 month waiting period. If this toothache comes back, I'm screwed either way. Dentists have no mercy. Pay in full or use Care Credit which has horrific reviews.
I came across a website that offered dental savings plans. You pay a yearly fee, get a discount card, and then get some nice discounts off services. Best part is I would get covered immediately. But it appears to good to be true. The site listed several dentists in my area, but when I called them, oddly, I would get a cold nope we don't use that. They actually acted kinda snippy like how dare I even ask if they would accept such a thing.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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Even the listed providers will drop when they get fed up dealing with the people that typically sign up for these, who take the discount but then don't pay the rest of the bill when it comes. Better to spend more for a real dental package such as Delta. They paid for about half of my implants last year saving me more than $3,000. My premium through my employer is $5/month, and most dentists accept it. Their best plan is only $54/month if you do it on your own.
I wouldn't expect much for the $240/year you are paying now.
How much does your Grocery Insurance pay for your food? How much does your Shelter Insurance pay towards your rent? How much does your Dental Insurance pay for your oral health?
Why do you need others to pay for things that you KNOW are going to have to be dealt with at some point? My questions proposed above are absurd.....hmmmm, or are they?
This is the entitlement attitude that is breaking our country. Where is the uproar over unaffordable housing? Where is the uproar over unaffordable food at grocery stores? Food and housing are much more critical than dental health. Fortunately, people don't need teeth. Everyone WANTS teeth, but nobody NEEDS teeth. There are 400lb people walking around without any teeth.
How much does your Grocery Insurance pay for your food? How much does your Shelter Insurance pay towards your rent? How much does your Dental Insurance pay for your oral health?
Why do you need others to pay for things that you KNOW are going to have to be dealt with at some point? My questions proposed above are absurd.....hmmmm, or are they?
This is the entitlement attitude that is breaking our country. Where is the uproar over unaffordable housing? Where is the uproar over unaffordable food at grocery stores? Food and housing are much more critical than dental health. Fortunately, people don't need teeth. Everyone WANTS teeth, but nobody NEEDS teeth. There are 400lb people walking around without any teeth.
I don't see it that way. It's the year 2014, and with all our modern technology, no one should have to suffer in physical pain because they can't afford treatment. I don't think being pain free is a luxury. It annoys me that health insurance doesn't cover dental treatment. Who decided that the mouth was not part of the human body and therefore a toothache is not a medical condition? Especially when I read that if you ignore it, an infection could possible get into the bone and kill you.
I don't see it that way. It's the year 2014, and with all our modern technology, no one should have to suffer in physical pain because they can't afford treatment. I don't think being pain free is a luxury. It annoys me that health insurance doesn't cover dental treatment. Who decided that the mouth was not part of the human body and therefore a toothache is not a medical condition? Especially when I read that if you ignore it, an infection could possible get into the bone and kill you.
Technology has nothing to do with affordability. Actually, fancier technology is MORE expensive. Who is paying for it? Obviously not you. Health insurance does not cover dental treatment because it's an easy way for them to save money. Wait....did you think the insurance companies have YOUR best interests in mind? They are here to make money, the same reason everyone else goes to work every day. They do this by collecting premiums then avoiding payment for healthcare. It's pretty simple actually. An infection from a tooth that becomes life threatening....yes it happens but it is rare. It is cheaper for the insurance company to just pay the hospital bills for the <0.1% of those cases that happen than it is to pay to fix all the teeth that can potentially cause a life threatening infection. The insurance company is not the patient's friend, despite what they tell you.
Jeffbase40 - I personally have a dental plan through Ameriplan and love it. My plan has vision, prescription and chiropractic savings as well. I've already saved hundreds of dollars on extractions and x-rays for myself. Saved over a thousand dollars with dental services for our kids. Got to love no co-pays, no deductibles, no waiting periods and no annual caps on services.
I will take a discount on dental services any day because it is usually so expensive.
Perhaps get a list of what dental insurance your dentist does accept & research those plans.
If there's a dental school in your city than check if they're accepting patients. Dental schools usually charge either nothing or a very low fee. All the work should be supervised by the dental school professors.
I don't see it that way. It's the year 2014, and with all our modern technology, no one should have to suffer in physical pain because they can't afford treatment. I don't think being pain free is a luxury. It annoys me that health insurance doesn't cover dental treatment. Who decided that the mouth was not part of the human body and therefore a toothache is not a medical condition? Especially when I read that if you ignore it, an infection could possible get into the bone and kill you.
I agree and dental or any type or any type of health is important and a right not a luxury. I don't understand why people think health is a luxury? People need teeth. That is like saying that people don't need shelter because there are homeless people. Good luck by the way.
I agree and dental or any type or any type of health is important and a right not a luxury. I don't understand why people think health is a luxury? People need teeth. That is like saying that people don't need shelter because there are homeless people. Good luck by the way.
Teeth are not needed as evidenced by all the obese people without teeth. Think about it. Nobody ever died because they didn't have teeth. I'm talking about NEED not WANT. Shelter for homeless is not an accurate comparison.....homeless people can die when exposed to the element.
I received an anonymous reputation comment that said, "You sound like a horrible, horrible dentist. If that is your attitude to people who are broke and in pain then you are in the wrong profession. Shameful."
I don't get it. I'm a dentist so it's in my best interest for everyone to have teeth so I can stay busier. I'm not sure what "attitude" is being referred to here. I'm just explaining why teeth are not considered by health insurance to be an essential component of life. Food and shelter is more important. And this is one case where the insurance companies are correct unfortunately.
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