Q.: I have right now a dental plan from my Union. This plan does not cover enough. For example, my wife needs wisdom teeth removed. It has gotten so far as the wisdom tooth coming in and pushing on the roots of the tooth next to it. That then killed the nerve on the other tooth! The dentist we went to asked for $640 upfront for the cost of extractions of wisdom teeth, with the total of $1500.
What supplemental dental plans do you have that would help defray this cost? Also, I need to make sure my four girls are taken care of. It used to be you paid $10-$15 for ANY filling. These days, it goes by categories! You can expect a different price for a filling if just the enamel is affected, a higher price if the second tooth layer is affected, and even higher price if the third layer is affected! We as a family are really having a hard time right now. The Union job I held was going slow and I am not getting back to work until January. Also, I would like to go to a dentist that will set me up with a dental payment plan; all dentists we went to wanted all cash payment upfront and wouldn't set up a payment plan! Fortunately, the wife is not in pain right at this moment. She could however see a dentist any time, really.
T. T., Section, Alabama
A.: Dear T. T., The times have changed, haven't they? Everything seems more expensive than it used to be and more complicated. Cost of filling classified by 3 categories, incredible! And dentists prefer to see cash on hand when they would be happy with just extending a payment plan as little as a year ago. Times have changed. What has not changed much is that there are plans out there, called discount dental plans that can help you lower your cost dramatically. They will save you on any procedure that a dentist or dental specialist such as oral surgeon, is licensed to do. Depending on type of extraction, the wisdom teeth are usually extracted by oral surgeons. As far as a payment plan, you could get one through Care Credit but they will want to see you haveing a good credit rating. Also, as the wisdom teeth can flare up anytime, you want a plan that has no waiting periods. A plan with high annual maximum would suit you as well. You are probably close to your annual limit just for your wife's extractions. I'll include a site with more information on a few plans with no waiting periods and high or no annual maximums.
--Dental Cool
Resources
http://dentalservice4less.com
http://myDentalPlans.info
http://CareCredit.com
Showing posts with label discount dental plan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label discount dental plan. Show all posts
Thursday, December 3
Wisdom Teeth Extractions: Supplemental Dental Plan Needed, Union Plan Insufficient. Dental Payment Plan
Tuesday, November 10
Needing Lower Dentures Due to Radiation Therapy Damage to Teeth
Q: I had radiation therapy on my jaw six years ago. Because of that my jaw is degenerating. I'm getting abscesses around my lower jaw. I have recently got approval from SCAN to get all caps pulled. I will incur very little cost for that, about $10 copay on each tooth extraction. However, down the road I will need dentures on my lower jaw. Can you help with the cost of lower dentures? SCAN or Medicare will not pay for dentures.
A. K., Palm Springs, California
A: Dear A. K., yes I can help. A lot of people think that there are no dental plans that would cover dentures reasonably. Or they feel like if they are going to just get dentures it makes little sense to commit to a dental plan for a year or longer when all they feel they need is dentures. That may or may not be the case. See, sometimes dentures can be made relatively quickly, and sometimes they take longer to make, especially the ones that are of higher quality. Also, people's mouth changes over time and realignment of dentures, or relining is required. Sometimes as often as once a year! So I do recommend to get a dental plan, even if you have to stay on the plan for the whole year or longer. Get a plan with no waiting periods. It will save you money on your dentures right away and it may save you money in the future if you need relining or other services. I am including a few recommended links below.
--Dental Cool
Recommended links
Save to 65% on dentures and other dental services instantly
MyDentalPlans: Save on dentures and other services (minimal committment, 1 year)
Other people who could benefit from these links
An intense discussion involving high costs of dentures at Topix.com
A. K., Palm Springs, California
A: Dear A. K., yes I can help. A lot of people think that there are no dental plans that would cover dentures reasonably. Or they feel like if they are going to just get dentures it makes little sense to commit to a dental plan for a year or longer when all they feel they need is dentures. That may or may not be the case. See, sometimes dentures can be made relatively quickly, and sometimes they take longer to make, especially the ones that are of higher quality. Also, people's mouth changes over time and realignment of dentures, or relining is required. Sometimes as often as once a year! So I do recommend to get a dental plan, even if you have to stay on the plan for the whole year or longer. Get a plan with no waiting periods. It will save you money on your dentures right away and it may save you money in the future if you need relining or other services. I am including a few recommended links below.
--Dental Cool
Recommended links
Save to 65% on dentures and other dental services instantly
MyDentalPlans: Save on dentures and other services (minimal committment, 1 year)
Other people who could benefit from these links
An intense discussion involving high costs of dentures at Topix.com
Wednesday, October 21
Dental Check Up: Need 5 Extractions, Upper Dentures, and a Root Canal. Seniors Dental Insurance. Wants Help Paying for Root Canal.
Q: I've recently retired from a job. I'm looking for some help because I have problems with my teeth and can not afford services. The upshot of my recent dental check up was that I needed 5 extractions of my upper teeth, full upper denture, a root canal, and a few other services. Total bill was $3,000! One of my teeth is lose and I'd like to see a dentist again soon, but I can not afford the whole bill. Is there a dental payment plan option available to retirees and seniors?
P. C., Dumfries, VA
A: I am getting a lot of questions about payment plans recently. The fact is, people are faced with substantial amount of dental work and just don't see how they can cope with the costs. There are medical and dental financing options, and many dentist offices will offer financing options. Usually they go through Care Credit or Capital One. However, many times, the applications are rejected because of the applicant's low credit score. Also, many times, with a payment plan, the interests are significant so over time, the patient ends up paying even more. A great suggestion for people who would like to afford their dental services is to become a member of a fee-for-service plan. This is how a fee-for-service (or discount) plan works: For a small monthly membership fee, typically less than $20, you are guaranteed a significantly lower cost of your dental, vision, etc. services at participating service providers. In principle, you, the patient, are responsible for the payment of the discounted price at the time of service. However, with a significantly lower cost of services, you may now more easily qualify for the dental payment plan, and, if your application for credit is accepted, your monthly payments will be lower too.
Coming back to your question, P. C., I recommend to purchase one of the fee-for-service or discount plans right away. They usually have no waiting periods, or at most a few days waiting periods. They will save you as much as 15-60% on services that you need now. Some even save 80% on dental check ups. And, if you still need a payment plan after savings, I recommend to consult with the dentist office first. Enjoy your new teeth!
--Dental Cool
Recommended links
Dental Fee-For-Service or Discount Plans
www.carecredit.com
P. C., Dumfries, VA
A: I am getting a lot of questions about payment plans recently. The fact is, people are faced with substantial amount of dental work and just don't see how they can cope with the costs. There are medical and dental financing options, and many dentist offices will offer financing options. Usually they go through Care Credit or Capital One. However, many times, the applications are rejected because of the applicant's low credit score. Also, many times, with a payment plan, the interests are significant so over time, the patient ends up paying even more. A great suggestion for people who would like to afford their dental services is to become a member of a fee-for-service plan. This is how a fee-for-service (or discount) plan works: For a small monthly membership fee, typically less than $20, you are guaranteed a significantly lower cost of your dental, vision, etc. services at participating service providers. In principle, you, the patient, are responsible for the payment of the discounted price at the time of service. However, with a significantly lower cost of services, you may now more easily qualify for the dental payment plan, and, if your application for credit is accepted, your monthly payments will be lower too.
Coming back to your question, P. C., I recommend to purchase one of the fee-for-service or discount plans right away. They usually have no waiting periods, or at most a few days waiting periods. They will save you as much as 15-60% on services that you need now. Some even save 80% on dental check ups. And, if you still need a payment plan after savings, I recommend to consult with the dentist office first. Enjoy your new teeth!
--Dental Cool
Recommended links
Dental Fee-For-Service or Discount Plans
www.carecredit.com
Tuesday, October 20
Shocked For Losing Dental Coverage: A Retired Couple From Novato Losing Dental Insurance in 30 Days. Is There a Substitute for the Dental Plan They Have Been Accustomed To For 40 Year?
Q: We are a couple who retired two years ago. We are looking to continue our dental coverage. Our Cobra is running out in a month. We've been accustomed to having dental insurance for forty years. It was quite a shock when we realized our dental insurance is ending. What we need covered is an exam and cleanings twice a year, an occasional filling, crown or root canal. We do not know the costs of these services without coverage as we practically never had to pay the full price. We also would like to keep our dentist that we've been going to for a long time. We've noticed a lot of plans out there have long waiting periods and we just do not want to wait a year or two before we can use our benefits.
P. F. from Novato, California
A: Dear P. F., I can understand your frustration. Just when you retire, and when your dental needs may become the greatest, you run out of company-sponsored coverage. I've seen that happen over and over again.
Medicare for the most part does not touch dental and so you are left out there on your own. Another shock for sure is that you've been accustomed to coverage, and you hardly even seen any expense related to that as it was taken out of your paycheck before you even saw the money. Now, the dental expense will be out of your own pocket.
I would ask your dentist what dental plans his/her office accepts first. Dental offices, however are notorious for recommending names that make for great group plans such as the one you had before retirement. However, when it comes to individual plans, the same insurance company that offers a great group plan could offer a lousy individual plan. Beware.
Look for the small print when purchasing individual insurance. Look for waiting periods. You sound like you are not comfortable waiting and paying premiums for a year or two before the coverage even kicks in! Look for annual maximums. When the amount of services is exhausted for the year, you will start paying 100% out of pocket even though you are paying for insurance. Also, compare the deductibles - you can count them simply as an addition to the annual cost of the plan.
If the restrictions of conventional individual insurances are overly restrictive, you may consider simply not paying insurance and creating a dental savings account, and self insure your costs, or get a discount dental plan that will have no waiting periods, no limits on services, and no deductibles. It just all depends on how do you want to manage your finances.
--Dental Cool
Related links
Dental Discount Plans
Individual Dental Insurance Plans (beware long waiting periods and annual maximums)
P. F. from Novato, California
A: Dear P. F., I can understand your frustration. Just when you retire, and when your dental needs may become the greatest, you run out of company-sponsored coverage. I've seen that happen over and over again.
Medicare for the most part does not touch dental and so you are left out there on your own. Another shock for sure is that you've been accustomed to coverage, and you hardly even seen any expense related to that as it was taken out of your paycheck before you even saw the money. Now, the dental expense will be out of your own pocket.
I would ask your dentist what dental plans his/her office accepts first. Dental offices, however are notorious for recommending names that make for great group plans such as the one you had before retirement. However, when it comes to individual plans, the same insurance company that offers a great group plan could offer a lousy individual plan. Beware.
Look for the small print when purchasing individual insurance. Look for waiting periods. You sound like you are not comfortable waiting and paying premiums for a year or two before the coverage even kicks in! Look for annual maximums. When the amount of services is exhausted for the year, you will start paying 100% out of pocket even though you are paying for insurance. Also, compare the deductibles - you can count them simply as an addition to the annual cost of the plan.
If the restrictions of conventional individual insurances are overly restrictive, you may consider simply not paying insurance and creating a dental savings account, and self insure your costs, or get a discount dental plan that will have no waiting periods, no limits on services, and no deductibles. It just all depends on how do you want to manage your finances.
--Dental Cool
Related links
Dental Discount Plans
Individual Dental Insurance Plans (beware long waiting periods and annual maximums)
Friday, October 9
The Cost of Clear Braces
Are you a kind of a person who would really want less noticeable braces on your teeth? Some dentists offer their patients the option of choosing clear dental braces. These braces are made of pure monocrystalline sapphire that is virtually invisible. Only the thin arch wire is visible. This makes clear braces nearly invisible.
Clear braces can be worn longer if need be without the orthodontist feeling as much pressure to take them off for esthetic reasons.The clear sapphire brackets do not stain unlike the plastic brackets. Also, they are stronger than other ceramic brackets. Sapphire is the second hardest material after diamond so clear brackets will not be distorted. Distortion of a bracket could hamper control of the pressure on the tooth.
The disadvantages of clear teeth braces are: The clear or white ligatures, little elastics that hold the arch wire to the brackets, can stain, which defeats aesthetics of the clear braces. However, ligatures are changed at your monthly adjustment. Treatment can take a few months longer with clear brackets. They are a bit larger than metal brackets.
The cost of clear braces will be as much as $500 - $1250 over the cost of comparable stainless steel braces. Clear braces could be more fragile than the regular, metal braces. Consult with your dentist whether clear braces are right for you.
Related links
Get 25% off the cost of clear teeth braces
Clear braces can be worn longer if need be without the orthodontist feeling as much pressure to take them off for esthetic reasons.The clear sapphire brackets do not stain unlike the plastic brackets. Also, they are stronger than other ceramic brackets. Sapphire is the second hardest material after diamond so clear brackets will not be distorted. Distortion of a bracket could hamper control of the pressure on the tooth.
The disadvantages of clear teeth braces are: The clear or white ligatures, little elastics that hold the arch wire to the brackets, can stain, which defeats aesthetics of the clear braces. However, ligatures are changed at your monthly adjustment. Treatment can take a few months longer with clear brackets. They are a bit larger than metal brackets.
The cost of clear braces will be as much as $500 - $1250 over the cost of comparable stainless steel braces. Clear braces could be more fragile than the regular, metal braces. Consult with your dentist whether clear braces are right for you.
Related links
Get 25% off the cost of clear teeth braces
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)