Choosing a dental insurance plan?
Steve
I need to get my Wisdom tooth extracted which would cost about 300$
without insurance in Florida(where I reside). I have basic dental
insurance, but that would cover only 30 out of the 300.
I am a male in late twenties, non-tobacco user
I am thinking of getting Prepaid Dental Plan C550 in Florida by Humana
http://www.humanaonedental.com/florida-dental-insurance/dental-plan-C550.aspx
which is about11$/month and a one time fee of 35$. They have no
deductibles or waiting period, but require a lock in period of 1 year.
But, the total expense still would be around 160$ for the year which is
lot less than 270$(which I have to pay with my current insurance) and I
get cleanings free(twice a year) with this plan.
Some details about them are at
http://www.ehealthinsurance.com/ehi/dt/plan-details?planKey=32113600:1
1. Is the Prepaid Dental Plan C550 in Florida by Humana a proper choice
or are there better options?
2. Would there be any caveats with this that I need to be aware of?
3. Any other factors I need to be aware of?
DA
http://www.spendwize.com/groups/frugal/Choosing-a-dental-insurance-plan-61907-.htm
DA wrote:
Steve wrote:
Choosing dental insurance is a tricky business indeed. I actually don't
have one for the last few months myself and already out more than $1K (for
a family of 4) between moving to another practice, having a couple of
fillings done etc. I've not had anything needed for years (other than
wisdom teeth removal, which I'll talk about later) and thought that I can
pay for cleaning twice a year myself. So far the experiment is not working
out too good.
But getting back to wisdom teeth: have you visited the oral surgeon that
will be removing the teeth (tooth) yet? These guys actually break the
charges down to three different categories - ones paid by dental
insurance, ones paid by general health insurance and ones that you have to
pay out of pocket no matter the insurance.
This is some months in the past for me, so pardon if I get a few details
wrong but if the tooth has already erupted (hope I got the dental speak
right on this) i.e. already visible above your gum, its removal goes on
dental. But if it has not, it goes on general insurance. Also, if it's
impacted (rotten) then its removal goes on both (what was the share - I
can't remember).
They can (or have to - don't know) put anesthesia on general insurance if
I'm not mistaken. But if you want to, like my surgeon said, "take some
edge off" with laughing gas, then you'll have to pay for it yourself
despite the insurance. I have, by the way, and did not regret the $95
spent on it. Needed two teeth removed at the same time and there
definitely was some "edge" to be "taken off".
If you were removing all four at the same time and were put asleep for the
surgery, it is a whole different ball game as far as I know.
So, yeah, definitely visit the surgeon and you'll sit down with some
all-knowing assistant in his office that'll take you though the extent of
the financial damage they're planning to do. But it's definitely *not*
just your dental insurance that's at play here.
Good luck!
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(oo)
/-------/ EAT
/ | || MOR
* ||----|| CHIKIN!
~~ ~~
Steve
showed me that only one wisdom tooth is pointed sideways and has erupted
from the gums. Since it is slanting, it cannot grow fully.
> This is some months in the past for me, so pardon if I get a few details
> wrong but if the tooth has already erupted (hope I got the dental speak
> right on this) i.e. already visible above your gum, its removal goes on
> dental. But if it has not, it goes on general insurance. Also, if it's
> impacted (rotten) then its removal goes on both (what was the share - I
> can't remember).
>
> They can (or have to - don't know) put anesthesia on general insurance if
> I'm not mistaken. But if you want to, like my surgeon said, "take some
> edge off" with laughing gas, then you'll have to pay for it yourself
> despite the insurance. I have, by the way, and did not regret the $95
> spent on it. Needed two teeth removed at the same time and there
> definitely was some "edge" to be "taken off".
Who makes the decision what goes on general insurance and what on
dental? I have Capital Health Plan for general and the rep I spoke to
told all would be dental.
> If you were removing all four at the same time and were put asleep for the
> surgery, it is a whole different ball game as far as I know.
>
> So, yeah, definitely visit the surgeon and you'll sit down with some
> all-knowing assistant in his office that'll take you though the extent of
> the financial damage they're planning to do. But it's definitely *not*
> just your dental insurance that's at play here.
I was out of 92$ visiting the dentist for a consulation. My very limited
dental
insurance would reimburse just 22. Surgeon would take X-rays, do a
consultation which
would run in 200+, then cost of removal + anesthesia.
> Good luck!
>
Thanks for your suggestions, wishes and time.
The Real Bev
Are you anywhere near Yuma? Go across the border into Algodones and
you'll find an entire town full of dentists eager to supply you with
bargain dental work at between 10% and 25% of what you'd pay in the US.
I speak for four happy customers who had a LOT of dental work done there.
--
Cheers, Bev
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
666øF -- the oven temperature for roast beast.
DA
I think that this surgeon consultation, even though it'll set you back
another $200+, is a crucial step in finding out the actual costs when all
is said and done. If it's a well-known practice in town, you are most
certainly not the first person that goes through them that has Capital
Health insurance (which I'm not familiar with) and so they are guaranteed
to know what goes on which insurance. And if they don't they'll call on
your behalf, and part of your $200 pays for this detective work.
I did do the surgeon consultation and at least some parts of it went onto
my dental insurance because I don't remember paying so much out of pocket
for it. But by the end of the consultation (first part with the surgeon,
second, longer part - with an assistant to figure out payments) I knew
exactly what my out-of-pocket for the surgery would be.
Also, if it already hurts, you really need to see the surgeon ASAP - they
only have so many procedures per day and you may end up not having a time
slot for a months (or two as was in my case).
Not to make this thread too political, but if someone thinks our health
care system does not need to be reformed, they really need to have their
wisdom teeth removed. I guarantee you, more than half of what you're
paying (out of pocket or through insurance premiums) goes into this
bottomless pit just for figuring out who can weasel themselves out of
actually paying for the procedure.
Steve
for the tip.
Steve
> responding to
> http://www.spendwize.com/groups/frugal/Choosing-a-dental-insurance-plan-61907-.htm
> DA wrote:
> Steve wrote:
>
>> I was out of 92$ visiting the dentist for a consulation. My very
>> limited dental insurance would reimburse just 22. Surgeon would take X-rays,
> do a
>> consultation which would run in 200+, then cost of removal + anesthesia.
>
> I think that this surgeon consultation, even though it'll set you back
> another $200+, is a crucial step in finding out the actual costs when all
> is said and done. If it's a well-known practice in town, you are most
> certainly not the first person that goes through them that has Capital
> Health insurance (which I'm not familiar with) and so they are guaranteed
> to know what goes on which insurance. And if they don't they'll call on
> your behalf, and part of your $200 pays for this detective work.
>
> I did do the surgeon consultation and at least some parts of it went onto
> my dental insurance because I don't remember paying so much out of pocket
> for it. But by the end of the consultation (first part with the surgeon,
> second, longer part - with an assistant to figure out payments) I knew
> exactly what my out-of-pocket for the surgery would be.
I spoke to the surgeon's office who told me they do a consultation(105),
X-ray(110), extraction can range from 250-450 depending on
complexity(and since mine is pointed sideways it is), 375 for 30mins of
anesthesia so I am looking at about 900 cost out of which my dental
insurance would pick 50-100. The surgeon's office told me Capital Health
plan would not cover the anesthesia since it is a procedure to remove
the tooth so around 800 would be out of pocket and the cost of medicines.
> Also, if it already hurts, you really need to see the surgeon ASAP - they
> only have so many procedures per day and you may end up not having a time
> slot for a months (or two as was in my case).
Yes, but I am thinking of getting some insurance from ehealthinsurance
site which can bring down the cost from 900, though insurance takes 1
month to get activated from the date of purchase
I wish there were some community dental care centers in my area.
Thanks for your advice and time.
Rebel1
There is a distinction between a "plan" and "insurance." With my plan, I
pay $85 per year (for a single, senior person) and get a discounted rate
from participating dentists, which I pay in full. There is no
third-party (insurance company) involved.
I use this company:
http://dentalsave.com/
(Use IE as your browser, otherwise you many not be able to see the rates
choices in the right column after clicking on "View fee schedule".)
Here are the Florida rates for non-specialists. Specialists give 20% off.
http://dentalsave.com/pdfs/SouthEast_GeneralDentistFeeSchedule.pdf
All my dentist have adhered to the published prices. I see this as
price-fixing, both for the discounted and non-discounted prices shown.
But my New Jersey consumer affairs returned my complaint and said it had
to be sent to New York, where headquarters are. I have not done so.