Dental insurance

:thud:

I am SO frustrated. Last year we went without dental insurance because the premium was so expensive for me and the kids (DH's benefits require that he participate).

Last year, DD's dentist found a few cavities. Well, 6. We had 2 filled and decided to wait on the other less-severe ones. The plan was to get back on dental insurance and then get them filled. At this point, at least one of her teeth HAS to be filled and I'm hoping she doesn't need a crown. The cavity is easy to see while brushing her teeth and a little little bit of her tooth is gone.

Last year, I found out that I need to replace 2 fillings with crowns. Non-urgent but it would eventually have to be done. Well, now I have to get one of those crowns before I need a root canal.

Good thing we have dental insurance now, right? Wrong. It doesn't make a bit of difference. The coverage for non-cleaning and non-emergency care doesn't kick in until after a one year waiting period. We would be better off having not signed up for it as we are now paying the premium AND the dental care (which just can't be put off, IMO). My dentist is flexible about payment. The peds dentist is not.

I have had dental coverage through several companies in the past and have never run into this. Either I didn't notice or didn't need dental work that first year. I am SO FRUSTRATED!

My SIL has crap dental insurance so she volunteers as a guinea pig for the student dentists.

Not a good thread for me to read. I have a dentist appointment on Thursday, my first in 7 years . I have never had any cavities (as of 1999, that is), and while we had dental coverage during training, it wasn't that good and we were so broke I was never willing to cough up the extra money to go somewhere I hate.

I'm going on Thursday and have told EVERYONE I've spoken to there that I'm a wimp and afraid of the dentist and haven't been in ages, and they have to be very kind to me or I will go AWOL again.

That seems like such a stupid rule - you have to pay for a year before anything is covered. It sounds suspicous IMO.

That's awful! Insurance companies are such a scam, imo. I can't believe that your daughter's dentist isn't being flexible about the payments. You'd think that he would work with you so that you can get her cavities taken care of soon.

Seriously though ... how can you have to PAY the premium for a year before you're covered? It sounds fishy to me. I could see not being ELIGIBLE for coverage at all for a year, but not while you're paying for it.

I suggest making some calls up the proverbial ladder.

[Sheherezade]

I'm sorry Nellie. That totally sucks. Can you find a different dentist who will negotiate? Or finagle the payment somehow until the insurance kicks in?

Both our dental coverage and vision coverage have changed this year. It used to be bad. Now it's total crap. Our dentist dropped our neighbor with the same coverage. She just sent us big bills. Apparently, little of our treatment is covered now. I have to check in to this. With the vision we found out the yearly additional fee covers only exams now - no glasses. So, we are paying an extra hundred + for my son's $59.00 yearly vision test. Bleh.

Yeah, Angie, I am wondering if this is a new trend. I've never run into this before.

I'm going to go back through the benefits booklet and make sure this is spelled out. I'm sure I just missed it. I had gone through the benefits with the estimates from our dental offices and figured the amounts of coverage against the premiums and that we would come out ok. I wasn't looking for an exclusion like this. Especially when they only pay 50% in the first place!

re: me, I would consider the student dentists. Can't do that for DD though, too much potential for disaster. She really likes her dentist and I feel like I need to go with that since the fillings are a little scary for her. I've got her psyched up for another round of fillings and don't want to screw that up. After this appointment I will talk to him about his payment policies and this will be our last visit if he doesn't change them.

[Phoebe]

Nellie- That dental insurance policy stinks! What is up with that. I am so sorry that you have to endure this PITA!

Jennifer

[Amiens]

My FIL is a dentist, and MIL has always told us if we can opt out of dental insurance to do it, because the premiums end up being MORE than what it costs to have a cleaning or a filling done. Her suggestion is to call the local dentist, ask what he/she charges to do cleanings, fillings, and a simple crown, then try and put away that money into a savings account. It's no different really than having the money taken out of your paycheck.

Crystal -- that was the plan I should have followed and what I did last year. I thought that because of the crown, I would come out ahead. And I would if the rat bastards covered it.
That is a good suggestion. But...now that we will have one year coverage for next year, I might keep it for the crown I need next year.

[Tenacious_D]

That's horrible. Dental can be such a pain... DH and I go to the student dental clinic. The fourth years are quite good and the price its just right. Are there any dental schools in the vacinity?