I know things could be a lot worse and I almost feel silly asking for prayers for this but it is a big deal for us. Anyway, Owen had dental surgery done last month. Long story short - the dentists' office totally screwed up our estimate and was completely wrong about how our benefits work. (Yes, I know it is ultimately my responsibility to call our insurance and an estimate is only an estimate).
Anyway, some P&PT's that somehow the dentist office works with us and takes some money off of what we owe would be greatly appreciated.
More info if you care, LOL: We have maximum benefits of $500 - their original estimate had the insurance paying about $1500. I inquired specifically about that and told them I thought our insurance only paid $500 max and was told "that's not exactly how it works" and that the estimate they were mailing would show how it really worked. Again, I should have called our dental plan but I figured they knew what they were doing and trusted them. So, now the bill is about $1000 more than what we were planning and I don't even know how we are going to pay the $500 we were planning, let alone $1500. I won't even mention the $400+ we owe the hospital...oops, I guess I will.
So anyway, P&PT's would be appreciated. Again, I know it's just money. But when it's money you really don't have it's really stressful. (We are still paying off Gavin's surgery from getting his tonsils out...one more month!!!)
so sorry. medical/dental can really add up. i hate it and i know how it can throw people off financially. praying that it all works out and they work with you. you can only do what you can.
Prayers, Juni. I know how stressful money woes can be-and it isn't a silly thing at all. Medical expenses can be astronomical, and honestly, I count on my dental and doctor's offices to make sure they are giving me reasonable estimates. (usually our dentist calls the insurance company before doing anything and tells us what the out of pocket costs will be before they do it)
Have you spoken with them about adjusting the amount down? Many times they will, and I would think that given the fact that they were confused about the whole thing as well, they would be willing to work with you on it.
My pedi's office had a mix up with my insurance for Kate's last well visit-the insurance initially declined the charges saying it hadn't been a full year since her last well visit (it had been-I am very careful about that), and the pedi sent me a bill that they automatically adjusted to remove like 30% of the charges. I called and got the whole thing straightened out, and it wasn't that kind of money, of course, but generally speaking, when they know you are covering it yourself, they give you wiggle room.
Prayers, Juni. I know how stressful money woes can be-and it isn't a silly thing at all. Medical expenses can be astronomical, and honestly, I count on my dental and doctor's offices to make sure they are giving me reasonable estimates. (usually our dentist calls the insurance company before doing anything and tells us what the out of pocket costs will be before they do it)
Have you spoken with them about adjusting the amount down? Many times they will, and I would think that given the fact that they were confused about the whole thing as well, they would be willing to work with you on it.
My pedi's office had a mix up with my insurance for Kate's last well visit-the insurance initially declined the charges saying it hadn't been a full year since her last well visit (it had been-I am very careful about that), and the pedi sent me a bill that they automatically adjusted to remove like 30% of the charges. I called and got the whole thing straightened out, and it wasn't that kind of money, of course, but generally speaking, when they know you are covering it yourself, they give you wiggle room.
Good luck-I hope they will work with you on it,
I was under the impression they had contacted our insurance because they said they were doing that before sending the estimate so I'm not sure how it happened. I am banking on them adjusting it. They also charged us for doing sealants on all of his teeth (about $300 total or something like that) which I had opted out of because I knew insurance wouldn't pay and we couldn't afford it. So, that had BETTER come off right off the bat. I'm still hoping they will cut us a deal beyond that.
I emailed the lady I initially talked to but never heard back so I emailed the dentist directly. He is a great guy and I have emailed with him before so I know he responds. I know it is preferable to talk on the phone but my work hours/environment aren't set up to make personal calls (and it wouldn't be a simple 5 minute convo) so I was limited about how I could get in touch with them.
Prayers, Juni. I know how stressful money woes can be-and it isn't a silly thing at all. Medical expenses can be astronomical, and honestly, I count on my dental and doctor's offices to make sure they are giving me reasonable estimates. (usually our dentist calls the insurance company before doing anything and tells us what the out of pocket costs will be before they do it)
Have you spoken with them about adjusting the amount down? Many times they will, and I would think that given the fact that they were confused about the whole thing as well, they would be willing to work with you on it.
My pedi's office had a mix up with my insurance for Kate's last well visit-the insurance initially declined the charges saying it hadn't been a full year since her last well visit (it had been-I am very careful about that), and the pedi sent me a bill that they automatically adjusted to remove like 30% of the charges. I called and got the whole thing straightened out, and it wasn't that kind of money, of course, but generally speaking, when they know you are covering it yourself, they give you wiggle room.
Good luck-I hope they will work with you on it,
I was under the impression they had contacted our insurance because they said they were doing that before sending the estimate so I'm not sure how it happened. I am banking on them adjusting it. They also charged us for doing sealants on all of his teeth (about $300 total or something like that) which I had opted out of because I knew insurance wouldn't pay and we couldn't afford it. So, that had BETTER come off right off the bat. I'm still hoping they will cut us a deal beyond that.
I emailed the lady I initially talked to but never heard back so I emailed the dentist directly. He is a great guy and I have emailed with him before so I know he responds. I know it is preferable to talk on the phone but my work hours/environment aren't set up to make personal calls (and it wouldn't be a simple 5 minute convo) so I was limited about how I could get in touch with them.
Dang!!! They really screwed up the billing on this one!!! Yeah, they had better be willing to work on this with you. They really did a number of you.
Isn't it frustrating when you don't hear back from people??? I can't stand that. I hope the dentist gets back to you and helps you get it resolved quickly.
Did you check your spam folder? I ask only because lately, some of my real messages somehow have been ending up there.
Prayers, Juni. I know how stressful money woes can be-and it isn't a silly thing at all. Medical expenses can be astronomical, and honestly, I count on my dental and doctor's offices to make sure they are giving me reasonable estimates. (usually our dentist calls the insurance company before doing anything and tells us what the out of pocket costs will be before they do it)
Have you spoken with them about adjusting the amount down? Many times they will, and I would think that given the fact that they were confused about the whole thing as well, they would be willing to work with you on it.
My pedi's office had a mix up with my insurance for Kate's last well visit-the insurance initially declined the charges saying it hadn't been a full year since her last well visit (it had been-I am very careful about that), and the pedi sent me a bill that they automatically adjusted to remove like 30% of the charges. I called and got the whole thing straightened out, and it wasn't that kind of money, of course, but generally speaking, when they know you are covering it yourself, they give you wiggle room.
Good luck-I hope they will work with you on it,
I was under the impression they had contacted our insurance because they said they were doing that before sending the estimate so I'm not sure how it happened. I am banking on them adjusting it. They also charged us for doing sealants on all of his teeth (about $300 total or something like that) which I had opted out of because I knew insurance wouldn't pay and we couldn't afford it. So, that had BETTER come off right off the bat. I'm still hoping they will cut us a deal beyond that.
I emailed the lady I initially talked to but never heard back so I emailed the dentist directly. He is a great guy and I have emailed with him before so I know he responds. I know it is preferable to talk on the phone but my work hours/environment aren't set up to make personal calls (and it wouldn't be a simple 5 minute convo) so I was limited about how I could get in touch with them.
Dang!!! They really screwed up the billing on this one!!! Yeah, they had better be willing to work on this with you. They really did a number of you.
Isn't it frustrating when you don't hear back from people??? I can't stand that. I hope the dentist gets back to you and helps you get it resolved quickly.
Did you check your spam folder? I ask only because lately, some of my real messages somehow have been ending up there.
Ugh, Juni... this all sucks. Here you are trying to do the right thing by everyone, and this happens. Extremely frustrating. I hate crap like this.
Prayers it works out easily.
Thanks, I hate it too. And I am kicking myself for not being the one to call the insurance company. I know better but damn, I was just so busy and stressed and thought they had their info right. :(
That just stinks! I know how hard it is when things are tight as they are here right now. Whoever said money can't buy happiness, must have always had it! Even having just enough right now would bring much happiness!
I would've trusted what they said as well. How frustrating!
I hope all works out and gets adjusted appropriately.
Question, what were they going to do sealants on?
Bryce has sealants on his 6 year molars since those are teeth they do not lose but until those 6 and 12 year molars come in I did not think anything got sealants.
I would've trusted what they said as well. How frustrating!
I hope all works out and gets adjusted appropriately.
Question, what were they going to do sealants on?
Bryce has sealants on his 6 year molars since those are teeth they do not lose but until those 6 and 12 year molars come in I did not think anything got sealants.
I don't have the bill in front of me but it was for like 7 or 8 teeth if I'm not mistaken.
I am glad I remembered initially to NOT do some things. Apparantely when they checked it was to the tune of $400. So, they automatically took that off and an additional $300 courtesy. So, we are paying around $900 - which is about 400 more than the estimate but the estimate didn't include a crown (which he needed) so I feel like it is very fair. I'm happy (well, ykwim) with that and glad they were able to take off $700.
