"Cheap" dentist in the area

[MortonR]

Another approach might be to see what they'll negotiate for if you do a straight cash payment.

I've found some care providers that will cut a heck of a deal to get paid on the spot, as dealing with insurance companies cost them a lot of money and time.

RM

[Dane33]

Yeah, so my new dentist actually said to me, that for them to avoid having trouble with insurance, I would have to pay everything out of pocket, and then make the claim myself with my insurance. So how do I find the "negotiated" prices, by calling my insurance? (I have Delta Dental PPO)...

Thanks...

[mojo101]

It is not too long ago my dentist quoted me $1800 for a 3 tooth dental bridge.
She is Vietnamese and been in the business for many years.

[mojo101]

get a Capital one credit card which gives you $200 for spending $500 in 3 months,so you get $200 plus 1 1/2 % cashback.

[MortonR]

Originally Posted by mojo101

get a Capital one credit card which gives you $200 for spending $500 in 3 months,so you get $200 plus 1 1/2 % cashback.

That, or many providers offer GE's "Care Credit" which is a 12 or 24 months "same as cash" financing scheme. Of course if you don't pay it off in time you're going to be charged usury for the whole thing. They're gambling on you *not* paying it off.

-D

[EngGirl]

Originally Posted by Dane33

Yeah, so my new dentist actually said to me, that for them to avoid having trouble with insurance, I would have to pay everything out of pocket, and then make the claim myself with my insurance. So how do I find the "negotiated" prices, by calling my insurance? (I have Delta Dental PPO)...

Thanks...

DO NOT AGREE for this!!! You will end up paying more! Your new dentist is trying to make money on you!

This is what is going to happen:

Dentist will give you the bill. It might be (and most likely) missing al codes. He will ask you to pay. You will pay. Then you submit it to your insurance for reimbursement - insurance will ask for additional info. You will be that middle person between your insurance and dentist. Dentist office will eventually provide you all details about your treatment. Your insurance will dispute few codes, for example cap dentist will charge before feeling because in insurance eyes it's a part of feeling. Insurance will pay you back based on what was negotiated (assuming dentist is in-network). You will most likely receive 50% of what you will pay to the dentist upfront from your insurance company. DO NOT GO THIS ROUTE!!!!

You can call your insurance company and tell them this is what your dentist is proposing.

I have no idea who in their right mind would volunteer to be a billing middle person while having PPO insurance!!!

[Arcenal813]

Originally Posted by EngGirl

$3K for just 1 crown seems way high. Did you try calling your insurance to get estimated cost? Did your dentist files a claim/get pre-estimated total? The reason I am asking is because in many cases dental office will give you the cost they are going to bill your insurance company without even checking what was max. negotiated amount for that procedure. In most cases dentist will bill insurance for full price out of nowhere, for example, $3K and insurance will send payment and explanation of benefits back stating this procedure should cost $1200 where insurance pays $600 and $600 are patient's responsibility. Many dentists will even get 50% based on first amount from the patient and won't say you overpay - they will keep everything you overpaid in your account as credit and won't even mention it. I had to request refund before and believe it or not dentists played dumb like they didn't know what I was talking about.
If you have PPO dental plan, most likely you have great negotiated prices which is the main benefit of insurance.
If you are planning international travel, you might as well take advantage of it. I didn't have much luck personally and had to re-do everything here later on

$3k is the full cost.
Insurance pays 50% of that.



If you have a recommended dentist, please share.

[EngGirl]

Originally Posted by Arcenal813

$3k is the full cost.
Insurance pays 50% of that.



If you have a recommended dentist, please share.

full cost of what? Is it including prep work such as rot canal prior to crown?
I can PM you a private dentist info, check and see what the quote will be using that dentist. See if cash option without insurance could be better.

My husband just recently had dental work with crown as end result and paid $600 our of pocket. My guess we have different plans and hence different negotiated prices between our and your insurance.

[Coolair]

Look for another dentist clinics in your own area and this price for a crown is ridiculous. This is only one crown and not the implant.