My dad drives to Progresso or Reynosa for all his dental work and pays cash. He has a competent dentist and he did the math. It's saved him thousands over the years.
BINGO! Doctors are like car dealerships these days: the sticker price is never what you ACTUALLY pay, and someone can probably give you the same product for less if you look for it. Try to find an in-network dentist that can do the procedure for less. Tell them up front that money is an issue. Ask about payment plans, extra discounts, etc. As silly as it sounds, haggle with them. We saved about $800 on my wife's dental work that way.
Excellent point. Not all dentists are the same, and not all of them will charge the same amount for the same dental procedure. In general, most of us are very poor consumers when it comes to knowing how to buy medical/dental/vision/life insurance. Most of us over-insure ourselves medically, value our dental and vision too highly, and underestimate our life and disability coverage needs. Is your Delta Dental plan offered through your employer? Your employer often negotiates the coverage and the rates with the carrier, so don't blame Delta. The dentist office maybe could have read more closely into your coverage details, but in reality, the responsibility of knowing the coverage details, particularly the "basic" ones like how much will a crown be covered, is the patient's responsibility. And no, I do not work with any insurance companies. On a side note, you ought to be able to use your health flexible spending account to cover the gaps with pre-tax dollars, assuming you enrolled in the plan during annual enrollment with your employer. Just tough to predict exactly what procedures/ailments might come up in the next year, so use your own (and your family's) personal health history as a guide.
I think it is a very sad fact that we have to wheel and deal when it comes to our own well-being. I mean I know it's true and I know it has been around for a while but that does not change the fact that it is sad.
I find it sad that Americans feel like they should pay asking price for everything. No other culture does it, and business owners take advantage of our naiveté. It's amazing to me how much cheaper I can get many things just by asking.
If you go in-network then you don't have to worry about this type of stuff happening. If you go out-of-network then make sure you know how much your insurance will pay.
I have Delta Dental as well...I don't have any problems so far. I just go for a cleaning. I guess when I get older and my teeth starts falling out then I probably need a good dental insurance.
I have Delta Dental too and it's all I have ever had in terms of dental insurance. I have not had to do anything major either just cleanings but when it comes to crowns, root canals, and all other major work then my policy says I owe 50% of the costs. Thanks for reminding me, I need to schedule my next visit.
Delta Dental is smoking crack if they think a crown should cost $600 at a private practice. Either that, or the dentist charging $600 for a crown is working with a crappy lab.
Yes. I'd expect a dentist in Houston to charge at least around $800. If they go cheaper than that then either the lab sucks or the dentist is willing to make little profit off the crown. I dont see the latter taking place. Im a 3rd year dental student. We charge $450 for a crown. Basically, Delta Dental is expecting a private practice dentist to charge $600...whereas someone like me, who is completely inexperienced, charges barely less than that for a crown. I guarantee the product my patients receive are much worse than an established dentist who works with an above average lab. Its not even close...and the difference in price should definitely be more than $150.
bingo. get a vacation in Mexico and have it done here. You get your crown and you get to enjoy Corona in their beautiful beaches there with the same amount you'll give to these freaking dentists.
Wigman is right.. preferred provider. That's why I don't pay as much w/Delta. They have agreed upon rates b/c they're one of Delta's preferred providers, so they can't make you pay more than Delta's allotted amount.
Dental insurance varies significantly in coverage of expensive procedures, much more than regular insurance does. It's just the numbers... younger populations are pretty certain to avoid expensive dental work, so they won't pay for an expensive dental plan to cover them. With regular medical, you never know when someone might end up in the hospital and are willing to pay to avoid that potentially devastating expense. The market does what it needs to do. There are expensive dental plans out there that cover more costs.
You should be able to get it from your insurance company, either by website, or by booklet... Or, you can call a dentist and ask them if they're contracted/preferred with your insurance.
