The recent discussion about dental billing errors got me thinking - what are common practices in your dentist's office?
My son recently went to his dentist with a problem, we were told he had a major cavity and had to have his tooth pulled. They made another appt and he went in to have it pulled and a spacer put in. I asked them before that appt how much approximately it would cost (As our insurance only covers about 90%). They wouldn't tell me - not even a ballpark. They said they wouldn't know until they went in.
Then afterwards he went for a checkup and they finally did full xrays. Found quite a number of cavities (why didn't they do the xray when they pulled the tooth?? They had to put him under to pull the tooth. I would have thought that was perfect time to do xrays). Anyway, so he had to go back in again - this time under laughing gas. Again I asked them for approximate costs. No way Jose. Not until all work is done.
I'm still annoyed with these practices. I know docs do it too with prescriptions...but with drugs, it's a $5 copay so I know how much I'm going to have to dish out. (Rather different than a $300 10% payment) And the docs I see always ask if I have insurance and if I don't, try to give me a cheaper version.
On to my next beef - I went to see another denstist for a routine teeth cleaning I had an appointment for. A couple of weeks later, I get a bill for $100+. I'm in shock. Call and ask and apparently, it's a "deeper" cleaning I am supposed to get done every once in a while and my insurance only covers a portion of it as this is my OOP costs. Some notice would be considerate?! Or even a heads up when I went in for my appt?
anyway as you can tell...it all ticks me off a lot. I don't know if there's even any point looking for new dentists. From what others have told me, this is standard practice amongst dentists. I just wanted to find out from as many people as possible...what is your dentist's standard practices?
and what on earth do you do if you have a strict budget and need to plan your expenses carefully? We're fortunate as we keep a fairly large reserve fund. But I hate paying money without even getting a chance to say yes or no.
My son recently went to his dentist with a problem, we were told he had a major cavity and had to have his tooth pulled. They made another appt and he went in to have it pulled and a spacer put in. I asked them before that appt how much approximately it would cost (As our insurance only covers about 90%). They wouldn't tell me - not even a ballpark. They said they wouldn't know until they went in.
Then afterwards he went for a checkup and they finally did full xrays. Found quite a number of cavities (why didn't they do the xray when they pulled the tooth?? They had to put him under to pull the tooth. I would have thought that was perfect time to do xrays). Anyway, so he had to go back in again - this time under laughing gas. Again I asked them for approximate costs. No way Jose. Not until all work is done.
I'm still annoyed with these practices. I know docs do it too with prescriptions...but with drugs, it's a $5 copay so I know how much I'm going to have to dish out. (Rather different than a $300 10% payment) And the docs I see always ask if I have insurance and if I don't, try to give me a cheaper version.
On to my next beef - I went to see another denstist for a routine teeth cleaning I had an appointment for. A couple of weeks later, I get a bill for $100+. I'm in shock. Call and ask and apparently, it's a "deeper" cleaning I am supposed to get done every once in a while and my insurance only covers a portion of it as this is my OOP costs. Some notice would be considerate?! Or even a heads up when I went in for my appt?
anyway as you can tell...it all ticks me off a lot. I don't know if there's even any point looking for new dentists. From what others have told me, this is standard practice amongst dentists. I just wanted to find out from as many people as possible...what is your dentist's standard practices?
and what on earth do you do if you have a strict budget and need to plan your expenses carefully? We're fortunate as we keep a fairly large reserve fund. But I hate paying money without even getting a chance to say yes or no.
BTW, I don't think it would be easy to xray someone who is out cold - they instruct you how to clamp your teeth on the camera.
