Am I being scammed? Anyone work in a dentist office?

[dfchelbay]

Went to dentist yesterday. Same dentist for many years. Was told a crown was needed. Okay, was expecting that was the case. Made an appointment to have it done the last week of October. Was also told that I had to prepay my portion (what's not covered by my insurance 40%) up front...$400. So, I was expecting that on the day of the procedure I'd have to pay that. Well, I got a call TODAY asking if I wanted to come in and pay or give a credit card over the phone. WHAT????? Why do I have to pay my portion more than three weeks in advance? My friend said maybe the dentist has to pre-order materials. I have no clue.

Anyone work in a dentists office and know if this is normal? I've never had to pay for anything in advance. I usually pay my portion of medical stuff when leaving the appointment or when billed by the office at a later date. Also, is my dentist in the ballpark of what he's charging $1000 for a crown? This is a first, so I have no idea. If you have any advice or information about how this type of stuff is done/billed/costs please let me know. Thanks in advance.

 

[jahber]

I've never pre-paid at any medical place. It's always pay at the time service is rendered. Ordering materials up front is part of the cost of doing business. Plus, my dentist doesn't make the crown himself--he sends it out. So he pays the crown place with the money I give him when he does the crown prep.
And $1000 is what a crown costs around here, including build-up and seating, etc. It's a process.

 

[DisBud]

I can't answer about the pre-payment, but I had to pay my portion of the crown when I checked in for my appointment. My crown was somewhere around $1000, my portion was just under $500 and I have to pay 50%. Good luck!

 

[Alesia]

I've never had to prepay, but $1000 is about right.

Maybe your dentist has a lot of patients who don't pay unless they're required to do so in advance.

I doubt you're being scammed.

 

[LJSquishy]

I prepayed my portion of a crown at the time my appointment was scheduled, so weeks ahead of time. So, yes, it's normal and the price is also normal. A crown is the only upfront cost I've paid at the dentist.

If you're not comfortable paying weeks ahead of time just say so and ask if you can pay when you arrive the day of. If not, pay now and ask they mail you a receipt.

 

[kymom99]

I got a quote of $1500 for 2 crowns, so $750 each.

My estimate was after pre approval from insurance. My policy pays nothing but it does reduce what the dentist can charge.

 

[SC Minnie]

I've always paid at the time services were rendered. Also, double check your EOB once your insurance pays. There have been several times they've paid more than the dentist office expected and I had a credit. Just this summer I had a $300 credit and the dentist office and I had to demand they refund it. I only knew about it after I thought to ask.

 

[auralia]

My dentist required pre pay for my first crown but after that I needed another about a year later and didn't require it for the second because she "trusted me"?

 

[weeniecat2442]

I recently had foot surgery and had to "pre-pay" the portion not covered by insurance. I went into pay and they allowed me to just pay half.
I wonder if health providers are feeling the burn by people not pay their bills after receiving treatment and having to go through collections processes?
See if you can work out a payment plan with them. This was the first time I'd come across anything about "pre-paying"

 

[dfchelbay]

Thanks for the replies. I feel better about the situation seeing that my experience is quite within the norms. I was just thrown to answer the phone today with someone asking me for money 3 weeks in advance like that. I had expected that I'd pay the day they'd be doing the dental work. Live & learn I guess. Thanks again

 

[Hikergirl]

I've pre-paid before as well, when I made the appointment to have the crown done. I'm not sure if the office required it, I think they asked and since I was already there I just did it. I don't think you are being scammed, $1000 is about right as far as cost. If you do pre-pay just make sure you hang onto your receipt and paperwork and it shouldn't be an issue. I would not pay over the phone, I would pay in person and get the receipt in hand at that time.

 

[dfchelbay]

I've always paid at the time services were rendered. Also, double check your EOB once your insurance pays. There have been several times they've paid more than the dentist office expected and I had a credit. Just this summer I had a $300 credit and the dentist office and I had to demand they refund it. I only knew about it after I thought to ask.

My insurance wants their form to be filled out if anything is over $300 & it states exactly what they will pay for what. I will check the EOB as well. I have a feeling that if I didn't have insurance the same crown would miraculously only cost me exactly what insurance is willing to pay...$600, but because I do have insurance it's $1000, $600 from insurance & $400 from me...ugh

 

[SharonZ]

I've always pre-paid for my portion of a crown at my dentist office. I think it's becoming the norm to pre-pay. I had a procedure done at a surgical center (not a hospital), and I had to pay the remainder of my deductible prior to the surgery. With a good majority of people having high deductibles with their insurance, I can understand them not wanting to go through the hassle of trying to collect the money after the fact.

 

[afan]

My insurance wants their form to be filled out if anything is over $300 & it states exactly what they will pay for what. I will check the EOB as well. I have a feeling that if I didn't have insurance the same crown would miraculously only cost me exactly what insurance is willing to pay...$600, but because I do have insurance it's $1000, $600 from insurance & $400 from me...ugh

My mom goes to a different dentist than her cleanings for this reason. She pays less doing it cash oop to him than her reg dentist using insurance. She just doesn't like the cleaning job his office does. She saw his dad growing up and now him.

 

[Eastern]

I think that's what I paid for my crown a few years ago. I didn't have to pay until it was all done though.

 

[cnj]

My dentist gives a 10% discount if prepaying for a procedure.

 

[scrapquitler]

Went to dentist yesterday. Same dentist for many years. Was told a crown was needed. Okay, was expecting that was the case. Made an appointment to have it done the last week of October. Was also told that I had to prepay my portion (what's not covered by my insurance 40%) up front...$400. So, I was expecting that on the day of the procedure I'd have to pay that. Well, I got a call TODAY asking if I wanted to come in and pay or give a credit card over the phone. WHAT????? Why do I have to pay my portion more than three weeks in advance? My friend said maybe the dentist has to pre-order materials. I have no clue.

Anyone work in a dentists office and know if this is normal? I've never had to pay for anything in advance. I usually pay my portion of medical stuff when leaving the appointment or when billed by the office at a later date. Also, is my dentist in the ballpark of what he's charging $1000 for a crown? This is a first, so I have no idea. If you have any advice or information about how this type of stuff is done/billed/costs please let me know. Thanks in advance.

The $1000 price is about what I'm paying for one. I'm actually paying $850, but that's after a 20% discount that I get because I belong to my dentists "club plan". I also paid about $800 for the root canal that is going along with the crown. With the club plan, you pay $200 once year, and that covers two cleanings and exams plus annual x-rays, plus you get a 20% discount on everything else. Since two cleanings and exams cost more than $200, it's a no brainer.

My dentist charges half the price on the first visit and the other half at the second visit (she does root canals in two visits, two weeks apart). I don't have dental insurance, so I can't speak to that part of it.

 

[disneychrista]

Crowns run about $1,000 and a root canal if needed, is also $1,000. It is expensive to have bad teeth.

 

[bcwife76]

I'm having a crown done in 2 weeks (my 3rd one). The estimate from my insurance is just over $1200 and my portion is going to be approx $350. I will pay that after the procedure is done, not before. Have never been billed in advance for any dental appointment.

 

[clm10308]

My dentist has just recently gone to pre-payment for expensive stuff like crowns, but it is pre-pay on day of procedure. I think my daughter's crowns were about $850 a piece after insurance.