Dental Insurance - RANT

[Hillbilly Deluxe]

IMO, $2000 seems like a lot for a root canal, even for a molar.

Anyhow, what's the premium for this particular dental policy that you have?

I paid $1800 for a root canal in 2008 or so. $2k in 2023 doesn't seem bad.

But I will say that I never felt a thing and it was one of the most comfortable times I've ever had in a dentist's chair. I usually get up and am soaking wet just from a cleaning/exam.

The guy who did my root canal was a civil engineer in a prior life before he realized he didn't want to be an idio, I mean a civil engineer. He went to dental school and I have to say him being an engineer must be the absolute best way to pre-game for dentistry. This guy is about my age (52), so he was fairly young in his engineering career when he changed lanes.

Anyway, a typical crown has always been $1500+ and insurance always paid 50%.

I can tell you that starting an HSA if possible, is the best thing you can do when young. My wife had contributed to an HSA for about 15 years, had over $30k in it until last year when we found out she has Lyme. That money is long gone now....

 

[4WD]

I remember when root canals for molars were $900

Fortunately this was my first and the nerves seemed dead …

 

[4WD]

I paid $1800 for a root canal in 2008 or so. $2k in 2023 doesn't seem bad.

But I will say that I never felt a thing and it was one of the most comfortable times I've ever had in a dentist's chair. I usually get up and am soaking wet just from a cleaning/exam.

The guy who did my root canal was a civil engineer in a prior life before he realized he didn't want to be an idio, I mean a civil engineer. He went to dental school and I have to say him being an engineer must be the absolute best way to pre-game for dentistry. This guy is about my age (52), so he was fairly young in his engineering career when he changed lanes.

Anyway, a typical crown has always been $1500+ and insurance always paid 50%.

I can tell you that starting an HSA if possible, is the best thing you can do when young. My wife had contributed to an HSA for about 15 years, had over $30k in it until last year when we found out she has Lyme. That money is long gone now....

Yep - my long term dentist did not want to do mine bcs he thought it was complicated - asked him who he’d go to in my situation and it certainly wasn’t the cheapest guy in the area - from the minute I walked in you could tell even the assistant was a Pro … they stayed in sync the whole 1.5 hours …

 

[Merek]

I have Delta through the marketplace and honestly it sucks, I'm in the middle plan and the more expensive one does help cover the major dental work 50% but other than that it's the exact same thing, I've always heard you're supposed to get 2 free cleanings per year but evidently not with mine, the first time I go for some reason they don't bill me at that time but run it through the insurance and I always get a bill later in the mail for $50, however the 2nd is free.

I've even offered to just go ahead and pay the $50 but then they still want to run it through so go figure.

And I'm not too happy with my dentist either they have my schedule all screwed up, supposed to go twice per year but they keep moving me, right now I can't get in until after Jan. so I'll miss out on the 2nd visit, they are supposed to be trying to get me in sometime next month if they can get an opening that is. Last I remember they are so booked up and not taking any new patients.

 

[CKN]

I have Delta through the marketplace and honestly it sucks, I'm in the middle plan and the more expensive one does help cover the major dental work 50% but other than that it's the exact same thing, I've always heard you're supposed to get 2 free cleanings per year but evidently not with mine, the first time I go for some reason they don't bill me at that time but run it through the insurance and I always get a bill later in the mail for $50, however the 2nd is free.

I've even offered to just go ahead and pay the $50 but then they still want to run it through so go figure.

An I'm not too happy with my dentist either they have my schedule all screwed up, supposed to go twice per year but they keep moving me, right now I can't get in until after Jan. so I'll miss out on the 2nd visit, they are supposed to be trying to get me in sometime next month if they can get an opening that is. Last I remember they are so booked up and not taking any new patients.

Being booked up is an issue with many dentists that have even a half way good reputation!

 

[Merek]

Being booked up is an issue with many dentists that have even a half way good reputation!

Yes it is, if you noticed there are lots of the Urgent Care places popping up all over now. I had a friend who works in a Dental Office in a few towns over and said they hardly have any patients so I joked with her and said if that word got out they'd be loaded with new customers, where she's at it's mostly an older community and not really anyone new moving in to that part of the area.

 

[grampi]

Find a new dentist that will take your insurance. Medical insurance in the US is all a racket.

ALL insurance is a racket...

 

[grampi]

I don't understand why a root canal is so expensive. I had one done earlier this year and the appointment took about an hour. It was basically like having a filling done...

 

[andyd]

I had my last nine teeth removed by an oral surgeon. No insurance but a 6 month auto payment. Currently toothless, and I'm in no great hurry for a set of false teeth. I'm working on getting my vision improved first, then hearing, and if there's any money, teeth

 

[Donald]

I complained to the CEO of United Healthcare and got the basic response letter. They responded and still contended that the roughly $500 was the proper in-network rate for a root canal. And they reimburse at 50%.

 

[Merek]

My Dentist's office was supposed to contact me this month if they got an opening so I could at least get my 2nd cleaning this year but that didn't happen, last I remember my next appt wasn't until Feb. so if they cannot schedule me at least 6-7 months out for the next one I am done with them. Maybe If I'm lucky enough they will call me so I can get in earlier without having to wait until then. My last appt was back over the summer I'm thinking June so there's no reason they couldn't squeeze me in before the year ended.

Also like everything else my insurance increased again for next year.

 

[vavavroom]

I don't understand why a root canal is so expensive. I had one done earlier this year and the appointment took about an hour. It was basically like having a filling done...

You got lucky then. My brother required three visits for one root canal. A root canal can be a complex procedure depending on root anatomy. Getting into those tiny spaces and removing all rot down to the last bacteria is essential and there are no shortcuts. I hope I'll never need a root canal or even a filling. I'm not fond of someone drilling, scraping, and grinding my teeth.

 

[CKN]

ALL insurance is a racket...

You probably have Medicare or an advantage plan...don't you?

 

[alarmguy]

I LOVE my medicare Advantage C plan. My god, it beats anything corporate America offers it workers. How can anyone complain? Like any insurance there can be hiccups. Most times it misunderstandings of the policy. Pick, choose wisely.

The dental coverage can be iffy if you dont understand the limits of the plan but that goes for employee coverage too.
It's easy to find out the cost of a treatment ahead of time. Around here, you are giving an instant printout with your options when you are with an in-network dentist.
Medicare system works and works well, even more so if you are computer literate, EVERYTHING can be done online without speaking to anyone. Where can anyone get a medical plan for $2,100 a year that covers all your health care needs other than Medicare?
With no deductible on top of it! $0.00 co-pay for your primary and $10.00 co-pay for specialist.

A family member recently had over half a million dollars of heart procedures, his cost for the year? $2,100 for the one year insurance cost AND $2,500 in co-pays = $4,600. total Where else would you have over $500,000 in medical bills and be responsible for $2,500?

Me relatively healthy, Im covered with a no deductible plan, small co-pays for everything, a max out of pocket limit of $4,500
Plus allows me to buy up to $1,200 worth of ANY physical activity stuff. I can buy fishing rods if I want or submit gym bills or get a coach for any activity including golf courses or any group activity.
Pays for eye care AND $300 toward contacts or eyeglasses every year. Pays up to $1750, in dental. Pays for hearing tests and devices (I have not used that) and it gives me $180 a year for over the counter drug items, pain killers, tooth paste ect,

Sure, be careful that you are in network (applies to private ins too), but that is simple stuff. My plan covers everything around here 4 major hospitals and staff ect ect It even covers emergency medical if traveling outside the USA up to $250,000

Two years ago I did run up over $125,000 in heart evaluations and a procedure. My entire out of pocket expense was less than $1000

Ok, rant over.

 

[bullwinkle]

I complained to the CEO of United Healthcare and got the basic response letter. They responded and still contended that the roughly $500 was the proper in-network rate for a root canal. And they reimburse at 50%.

C’mon, those golden parachutes aren’t FREE, you know!,

 

[grampi]

You probably have Medicare or an advantage plan...don't you?

I have Tricare For Life...

 

[Torrid]

It didn't take me much to figure out that I shouldn't pay for dental insurance premiums...the break-even point between this and self-insuring doesn't take long to hit.

The only real benefit I see to my dental insurance is that it's no cost added if I have health insurance with my employer. I wouldn't be inclined to pay for one.

 

[Donald]

The only real benefit I see to my dental insurance is that it's no cost added if I have health insurance with my employer. I wouldn't be inclined to pay for one.

It's a wash if all you get are cleanings. But it helps with the expensive procedures like crowns and root canals. Assuming they base their payment (50%) on a reasonable procedure fee to start with.

 

[CKN]

I have Tricare For Life...

The you have nothing to worry about. It's an excellent insurance to have. You don't have the challenge of looking at a new Medicare/Advantage plan every 12 months.

 

[CKN]

I LOVE my medicare Advantage C plan. My god, it beats anything corporate America offers it workers. How can anyone complain? Like any insurance there can be hiccups. Most times it misunderstandings of the policy. Pick, choose wisely.

The dental coverage can be iffy if you dont understand the limits of the plan but that goes for employee coverage too.
It's easy to find out the cost of a treatment ahead of time. Around here, you are giving an instant printout with your options when you are with an in-network dentist.
Medicare system works and works well, even more so if you are computer literate, EVERYTHING can be done online without speaking to anyone. Where can anyone get a medical plan for $2,100 a year that covers all your health care needs other than Medicare?
With no deductible on top of it! $0.00 co-pay for your primary and $10.00 co-pay for specialist.

A family member recently had over half a million dollars of heart procedures, his cost for the year? $2,100 for the one year insurance cost AND $2,500 in co-pays = $4,600. total Where else would you have over $500,000 in medical bills and be responsible for $2,500?

Me relatively healthy, Im covered with a no deductible plan, small co-pays for everything, a max out of pocket limit of $4,500
Plus allows me to buy up to $1,200 worth of ANY physical activity stuff. I can buy fishing rods if I want or submit gym bills or get a coach for any activity including golf courses or any group activity.
Pays for eye care AND $300 toward contacts or eyeglasses every year. Pays up to $1750, in dental. Pays for hearing tests and devices (I have not used that) and it gives me $180 a year for over the counter drug items, pain killers, tooth paste ect,

Sure, be careful that you are in network (applies to private ins too), but that is simple stuff. My plan covers everything around here 4 major hospitals and staff ect ect It even covers emergency medical if traveling outside the USA up to $250,000

Two years ago I did run up over $125,000 in heart evaluations and a procedure. My entire out of pocket expense was less than $1000

Ok, rant over.

Medicare will implode one of these days. My wife has a very unique muscle disease. Her Doctor ordered a whole battery of blood work. It came out to like $300.00 or $400.00. The Advantage plan paid $38.00-they adjusted everything else down to ZERO for the hospital.
She paid zero-the hospital took it in the shorts. There needs to be a middle ground or else we will turn in to a third world medical system.