posted on February 20, 2004 04:33:08 PM new
need some advice on dental insurance or any insight -
my dentist told me i have a cavity near where my bridge is(a bridge covering 3 molar teeth at the back of my mouth).
she cannot work on it unless she removed the bridge and if there is nerve damage,there will be root canal work.
cost for bridge replacement is 1200 (porcelain,not gold).
cost of root canal-450 dollars
cost of cavity work-free.
now she said if i have insurance,insurance will pay 50%
i dont have dental insurance but i know she is one of the providers on some cheap dental plans advertised on internet like 7.95-8.95 a month.
questions-
i paid 50 for tooth cleaning with xray,and if i belong to the plan,it is only 25 ( no xray).i doubt if insurance company is reimbursing her much,so does that mean she is overcharging those who dont join that insurance plan and trying to get more business by being one of the providers by charging less .
i also found out that under the plan root canal is 243 dollars,so what does it tell you??
i am going to call the insurance plan on monday,but like to hear what you guys think?
what is going on here??
-sig file -------the lobster in the boiling pot of water who tries to prevent the others from climbing out.
posted on February 20, 2004 04:48:52 PM new
I don't have dental insurance anymore either, Stopwhining. Fortunately, I've had the same dentist since I was 8 years old. His fee for a cleaning and x-ray is $50. I haven't had a cavity since I was a kid and (knock wood) have never required expensive dental surgery.
If I was you, I'd check around on the going 'retail' prices for the procedures you mentioned. Also, it's no crime to ask your dentist about her fees; in fact, by law, she has to be willing to provide you up front explanations for every charge you might incur.
In general, the Insurance industry is so wacky that one actually can make a profit on a seeming loss. If Delta Dental is one of the plans being offered to you, take it. I had it for thirty years.
Otherwise, good luck. Hope you'll be able to avoid the root canal; I hear they're painful...
posted on February 20, 2004 04:59:18 PM new
thanks for your response.
she did tell me her fee-1200 for replacement of existing bridge and 450 for root canal.
she said these days root canal is not painful due to the medication ,what is painful is the cost!!
she said she has not raised rate for 10 years and each crown is 400 and so three will be 1200.
the dental plan i found on the web offers 45 days free trial,unless they have a waiting period or pre existing condition clause,then anyone can join and have the work done for less.
i doubt with 7.95 a month premium,the insurance company is reimbursing half of the work done,so is my dentist asking some to pay for those who pay less??
is your plan on the web,??
-sig file -------the lobster in the boiling pot of water who tries to prevent the others from climbing out.
posted on February 20, 2004 05:21:44 PM new
true,after 6 months,they have collected enough premium for some coverages.
-sig file -------the lobster in the boiling pot of water who tries to prevent the others from climbing out.
posted on February 20, 2004 05:27:20 PM new
I have Delta, but it's a crummy group policy. 1000.00 a year, one exam covered. I try to start my dental stuff around Christmas, so that any pricey stuff can be continued across years. Last year, for example, I had a double root canal the week after Christmas, tab was 1000 even. By the time my two crowns were ready, it was the week after new years, tab again, 1000. I get other cleanings and stuff done in Mexico. Simple cavities cost 20 dollars. Root canals, around 200 and gold crowns can be had for 150. For the family, I pay out of pocket. My district's dependent health care coverage costs over 550.00 a month. Too rich for my blood.
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posted on February 20, 2004 05:28:33 PM new
I'd do as twelvepole recommended....ask them about pre-existing clauses in their dental plan when you call them on Monday.
posted on February 20, 2004 05:35:41 PM new
Also...another thought. Don't know how brave you are but I've read dental colleges do work for very little or no money. You brave??? LOL
I googled for "low cost dental care" and this is one of many, that came up.
posted on February 20, 2004 06:04:29 PM new
Stop - I have to agree with Helen - you dentist does have very good pricing. I have had estimates from nearly every dentist in the area regarding what amounts to nearly 10K in dental work I will eventually have to have done (most of the enamel on the backs of my teeth no longer exists - I will eventually have to have all of my teeth capped, veneered or in some cases completely replaced) I'm deathly afraid of dentists so I keep getting estimates to avoid actually starting on the work and the prices you recieved are good.
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If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on February 20, 2004 06:29:25 PM new
you guys are real pals.
i think her price on bridge replacement is good ,kind of high on root canal.as she is in the discount plan and if you join that plan,root canal work is like 243 (she quoted me 450).
but prof,
mexican gold crown for 150,so a bridge of 3 is what 450??
may be i should go to mexico,which part of mexico,do you have the name of the dentist??
-sig file -------the lobster in the boiling pot of water who tries to prevent the others from climbing out.
posted on February 20, 2004 07:40:39 PM new
You could basically go to any major border town. I know that there are some dentists that operate out of TJ and I assume most of the border cities, that also have offices in the US which allows them to accept US dental plans. There are several TJ offices that have web sites with either pricing info or a number to call for more information. (I've talked to them as well) Figure out where the easiest place would be for you to go and do a web search for dentists in that area.
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If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on February 20, 2004 10:10:05 PM new
Stop - if you decide on TJ let me know. I can give you a little insight into the city that the writer was incorrect on. I don't blame him since his focus was not on exploration. There is a very nice little hotel about 2 miles from where this dentist is located for $50 a night with a restaurant on the premises, purified water in the room, a pharmacy across the street and a number of restauraunts, a grocery store, and two swap meets and a mall within walking distance. I can also give you some heads up on the best places to explore for fun or for ebay shopping (In other words- where to buy the goods to pay for your trip while at the same time making it a tax deductable business trip).
Prof - thanks for the article. It sounds like this gut does exactly what I would like to have done but nobody here would llisten to me. They are quoting me 10k just to do not quite half of what needs to be done. I just need to find out if he will knock me completely out - sounds like a nice man and very skilled and I would hate to bite him
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If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
[ edited by Fenix03 on Feb 20, 2004 10:15 PM ]
posted on February 21, 2004 06:23:18 AM new
profe51,
wow,this article is very interesting and adventuresome,too adventuresome for my taste!
but then he is talking about saving over 10k.
i have heard of oldies who take tourbus at the border of san anthonio and go to mexico to fill their prescription drug but not dental work.
i am going to get a second opinion on my situation.
fenixe,
thanks for your suggestion,i live in houston so tijuana is out of the way for me.funny the only thing i know of Tijuana is not something i can mention on this forum,but it is good to know they have good dentists.
may be we should all have our facial work done in buenos aires when the peso collapsed!!
-sig file -------the lobster in the boiling pot of water who tries to prevent the others from climbing out.
posted on February 21, 2004 11:37:44 AM new
Stop - I forgot you were in Texas - you have a plethora of border towns at your disposal
Tijuana is infamous for it strip joints and well yeah... Adelitas, but there is a lot of other things that go on there outside of the tourist areas. It's really an amazing city. Oh yeah, and there is a whole mall dedicated only to shoes
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If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on February 21, 2004 11:42:34 AM new
Helen - maybe I should write an eboook - Tijuana for eBayer - a Tax Deductable Adventure.
Include all the great shopping places along with tourist info plus list some good dentists, a couple plastic surgens, the best pharmacies, etc.
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If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on February 21, 2004 02:05:45 PM new
who is adelista??
do we know her by another name starting with a J??
shopping at tijuana,for what,mexican leather goods??
jewelry??
i did some research today,there are dental discount plans which is different from dental insurance-by joining the plan and go to one of the member provider,you pay a small fee for your visit and a discount for special work done.there is no pre existing condition .
say the membership fee for us is 99 dollars for 15 months and you pay less for office visit,x ray etc.
i doubt they get reimbursed much from the plan,just a way to get more referrals to pay their bills.
my dentist belongs to 7 different discount plans,go figure!
one thing about going abroad for medical treatment is-if it does not work out,it could turn into a nightmare.
-sig file -------the lobster in the boiling pot of water who tries to prevent the others from climbing out.
posted on February 21, 2004 02:26:14 PM new "Helen - maybe I should write an eboook - Tijuana for eBayer - a Tax Deductable Adventure. Include all the great shopping places along with tourist info plus list some good dentists, a couple plastic surgens, the best pharmacies, etc
"An old, long-whiskered man once said to Teddy Roosevelt: 'I am a Democrat, my father was a Democrat, my grandfather was a Democrat.' Roosevelt then said: 'Then if your father had been a horse thief and your grandfather had been a horse thief, you would be a horse thief?'" --Will Rogers
posted on February 21, 2004 04:11:48 PM new
::who is adelista??
do we know her by another name starting with a J??::
Adelitas is a basically a brothel. It's on the outskirts of the tourist area in a seedy seedy area frequented mainly by tourists and military. It's just an infamous aspect of Tijuana lore.
::shopping at tijuana,for what,mexican leather goods?? jewelry?? ::
Leather, jewelry, shoes, textiles, art, funriture, ironworks... you name it.
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If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on February 21, 2004 04:15:26 PM new
It's funny Helen - I originally posted that as a joke but now I can't get it out of my head. If nothing else it's a good excuse to go do more exploring. I know a lot of the factories have outlets, I'll just have to go spend some time hunting them down.
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If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on February 21, 2004 04:24:24 PM new
bear1949,
interesting site,thanks.
fenix,
for years i have heard of people talk about Tijuana and they will giggle and whisper,it is Juanita.
anyway,i think my dentist has offered me a fair price,i talked to the girl today and she said if i belong to a plan and it said take 25% off,they will do so.i hope she knows what she is talking about.
what all these dental plans are just a club,you pay a fee to get a list of dentists who will charge you a set fee,less than what they charge walk in patients.to the dentists,it is a way of getting more business.it is just a referral service.
my dentist is a member of 7 of these plans.
i dont know what ticks me off more,a german seller on ebay has stolen my pictures and sell the same item on ebay germany for more money.
-sig file -------the lobster in the boiling pot of water who tries to prevent the others from climbing out.
posted on February 21, 2004 04:33:07 PM new
::i dont know what ticks me off more,a german seller on ebay has stolen my pictures and sell the same item on ebay germany for more money.::
So why don't you sell on eBay Germany? When I discovered that itemsI was selling on the US site were selling for 30-100% more on eBay UK, I didn't complain, I started selling on eBay UK.
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If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on February 21, 2004 06:07:30 PM new
why dont i sell on ebay germany??
me speak no deutsch!
well,she said those items are out of production and rare,which is not true,you know how people love things rare and no longer made.
we are closer to cancun,may be i should look into cancun and cozumel?/
-sig file -------the lobster in the boiling pot of water who tries to prevent the others from climbing out.
posted on February 21, 2004 07:06:44 PM new
Are you planning on taking a vacation and spending some time there? Both would require either one longer or two shorter trips of a bit of a distance. If you are looking to just get the work done and not spend money then Nuevo Laredo is right across the San Antonio border. If you want to do one long trip and also shop for resaleble goods I would stay away from the tourist traps and go to Monterrey (closer to you) or Guadalajara (larger city). Of course if you just want some fun in the sun between torture sessions then Cancun or Cozumel would definately hit the spot.
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If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on February 22, 2004 05:54:04 AM new
i dont really have any plan for sun and fun vacation,i just paid off my last overseas trip and it is not fun or sun.
what is that city where they made those gorgeous jewelry-taxco??
i heard it is close to guadalajara??
-sig file -------the lobster in the boiling pot of water who tries to prevent the others from climbing out.
posted on February 22, 2004 07:10:33 AM new
Taxco is the city you're thinking of for silver...but it's closer to Mexico City, about a two hour drive on the new toll highway. It's in the state of Guerrero.
Guadalajara is in the state of Jalisco. Outside Guadalajara is the suburb of Tlaquepaque, known for it's ceramics, pottery and glassblowing workshops...
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