Among Friends

[Allegheny]

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@gmkb wrote:

I recently had an experience regarding dental insurance.  My dentist has two offices.  In 2014 I was seen at the second office for a crown.  At that time I paid my 20% copayment  for the crown.

Almost 2 years later I get a bill for that crown plus 'late' fees.  I called the billing office and the insurance co.  The ins. co. has no record of that bill being submitted.  The girl in the billing office said she submitted it.  I told her to resubmit it and she said it could only be submitted within a year and I am responsible. She said it was "confusing" because I was seen at the second office. 

So at this point I do not know the outcome, because I have called twice to check and the billing person has been"unable to take my call."

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@gmkb

I have a feeling someone either billing person or someone at insurance company knows a lot more then they are admitting to and perhaps are not owning up to an error.

My next call would be to the dentist who did the work, particularly if he/she is part owner of the business.  I would ask them to find out what happened and get back to you.

I had something similar happen to me with an appointment to a podiatrist. I got a bill wtih added late charges two years after my appointment.   I went into the office and paid my bill, but refused to pay any late charges. I am not a difficult or unpleasant person, but they could tell when I went in I was not happy and told them I refused to pay late charges for their mistake.

[this is my nic]

We stopped buying dental insurance because they paid very little on claims.  It just wasn't worth it.

[Nataliesgramma]

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@millieshops wrote:

Before I retired, I had dental insurance.  My employer paid half of the cost and I paid the other half.  I never once collected as much as I paid in.

When I was planning retirement, my dentist suggested I should self insure instead of looking for a plan.  His advice was based on his knowing my teeth and certainly may not apply to everyone.  But, I do self insure for my teeth - and in the 15 years I've been doing that, I've saved money every year compared to paying for a plan.  Each year I've been able to set aside those savings toward the year I'm not so lucky and it's built into a tidy sum.

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I am dropping my Dental Ins and just going to put money in the bank, I have only had ONE cavity my entire life and I broke a piece of tooth chomping on popcorn 20 years ago. When I go in for a cleaning the tech hardly does anything. The dentist says everything looks good and see you in 6 months. I have Delta Dental and I feel I pay too much for visits just to tell me everything looks good!!