Dental Work Cost

[Vil_Riker]

DD is one of the scummiest insurers out there because they have the largest market share in many states. There has been a huge push in dental community to drop participation with them. We dropped them 4 years ago after they hadn’t increased fees for 9 years and they were planning to reduce fees by 30% which would mean they pay about as well as Medicaid. They have temporarily halted the 30% fee reduction due to backlash but they have put other barriers in place with how they bundle fees, deny procedures, and they are eliminating DD Premier and forcing everyone to participate with their PPO. They are beasts to deal with and so we don’t anymore.

reducing 30% in the era of inflation?

 

[PWMDMD]

reducing 30% in the era of inflation?

This was several years ago…2018-19ish that they hatched this plan. Then the Vid happened and practices started dropping them and they halted this plan and pivoted to the just denying claims and bundling fees plan.

 

[JTK]

You made out very well IMO. I had Delta Dental years ago and they didn't cover much. My employer uses Aetna dental now and If you choose the premium plan and stay in-network, the coverage is decent. Routine cleanings and x-rays are covered 2x/year. Things like root canals and crowns, they pay about half.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Discovered during 6-month cleaning today that the back side of a tooth had sheared off a while back evidently (no pain).

I have a couple molars like that. Been that way for years. Didnt do anything to them but brush.

Molar #15 was cracked during a wisdom tooth extraction (#16) I have had a couple other molars crowned, Last crown cracked after a year and the Dentist had retired(!)
I recommend paying more for a Gold crown on the back chompers.

No insurance anymore. Getting a front implant on a failed RCT on #28 bi-cuspid. Should be about $3500 out of my pocket.
RCT ain't all they have been promoted to be - at least in my mouth.

Your insurance sounds fantastic!

 

[bovine1]

Our company insurance is thru Arkansas Blue Cross. Our yearly max is $2000. I've had to wait on a crown before til the first of the next year.

 

[2005jettatdi]

Those prices look reasonable. Even with insurance, going to the dentist here is very expensive. I feel bad for folks who do not have any coverage.

You do not need to feel for us. I paid a HUGE amount for dental care last year, but it did not break us. My insurance is a Treasury Direct account I pay into monthly so I always have funds for such things. I started it in 2009. I should have done it decades ago and eliminated all insurance. I knew a guy who did something similar all his life and had around $3 million in his rainy day savings.

 

[Vil_Riker]

This was several years ago…2018-19ish that they hatched this plan. Then the Vid happened and practices started dropping them and they halted this plan and pivoted to the just denying claims and bundling fees plan.

Acting like health insurance payers. I thought the dental care environment was a saner industry than the provider world.

 

[PWMDMD]

Acting like health insurance payers. I thought the dental care environment was a saner industry than the provider world.

Nope, it’s not even really insurance. Health insurance is really there so if you get into an accident or really sick and the treatment is $500k, you’re covered. Dental insurance is a prepayment plan and discount plan. They charge you yearly what they pay out for you and force the participating offices to give you a discount.

 

[Wylie6G72]

You've got pretty good dental insurance. My crown a few weeks ago cost me $1932.00, but I do the CAD / CAM same day crowns.

 

[Dave Hess]

You do not need to feel for us. I paid a HUGE amount for dental care last year, but it did not break us. My insurance is a Treasury Direct account I pay into monthly so I always have funds for such things. I started it in 2009. I should have done it decades ago and eliminated all insurance. I knew a guy who did something similar all his life and had around $3 million in his rainy day savings.

Are you sure $3M ?

 

[2005jettatdi]

Are you sure $3M ?

Yes