Dental insurance fails to cover routine procedures
Patients pay high out-of-pocket costs for fillings and cleanings, despite insurance plans.
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What people say
- Dentist quoted $340 for a filling. Insurance 'covered' it down to $310. Called that a benefit with a straight face. Great plan.
- Went in for what I thought was a routine cleaning and left with a treatment plan that has four figures on it and a hygienist who wouldnt quite look me in the eye when she said it. I asked if any of it could wait and got a very professional "I wouldn't recommend waiting" which is doctor speak for pay me now or pay more later. Called my insurance after and found out dental maxes out around what one…
- Found out today the crown I got two years ago needs to be redone because the dentist who did it originally apparently did it wrong, and insurance says it is cosmetic now so they will not touch it. Sat in the parking lot for twenty minutes before I could drive home. Not even mad really, just tired of how much of my life savings this one tooth has eaten. My partner keeps saying we will figure it out…
- Has anyone actually used a dental school clinic or one of those discount dental plans? Did it save real money or is it a gimmick? Dentist says I need two crowns, $3,200 out of pocket. My new job is a contract gig with no dental benefits until January, if they even convert me, and I can't wait three months with a cracked molar.
- needed an emergency root canal last month and even with dental insurance im staring down 1400 dollars they wont cover, split into a payment plan the office set up with 0 percent for now. worried i wont stay on top of it once things get busy. how do you all keep track of payment plans like this alongside everything else? i cannot be trusted to just remember a due date
- Got a bill for a simple filling that included a SEPARATE charge just for using the drill. I am not joking. Has anyone successfully disputed something like this?
- Dentist says I need a crown. $1,800 out of pocket even with insurance. I almost laughed out loud in the chair.
- Second dentist today told me I need a root canal urgently... same tooth the first dentist said last month just needed a regular filling. Who am I supposed to trust here?
- Dentist quoted me $8k for a treatment plan. A second dentist quoted $2,800 for the exact same procedures. Always get a second opinion for dental. ALWAYS.
- got a bill for 1200 dollars after a routine cleaning turned into 2 fillings. wasnt even in pain before i went in. dental insurance is a joke
- Just got a dental bill for $1,400. Before the procedure my insurance said it was "covered." Apparently covered means they pay 30% and the rest is on me. Nobody mentioned that before they drilled into my teeth.