SKL Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 So my kids aren't on my dental insurance. I somehow thought they were, but anyhoo. Last month they both had a cleaning, and they recommended that Miss A get two deep congenital "pits" in the sides of her 6-year molars filled, to prevent decay. So I did. Well, I just got the bill for $638. (The fillings were $200 each, even though they didn't use novocaine.) My question is: would you call them and try to negotiate the fee down to what they would have gotten if my kids were on my insurance? (I will probably add them to the insurance so we don't have this problem next year.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathryn Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 It wouldn't hurt to ask. I'd explain that you didn't realize they weren't covered and if you had, you would have waited until they were. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katilac Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 I would definitely negotiate, although I'd likely settle for somewhere in between. Did they not ask for an insurance card at the start of the visit? The only way I can remotely see this happening at an efficient office is if they used to be on your insurance, they ask you if "they're still on XYZ insurance?" and you say yes. If that's not what happened, they dropped the ball. They should check on insurance and method of payment first thing. Another thing I would suggest: tell them you want a written treatment plan for every. single. thing. You will see the cost ahead of time, plus it cuts down on the misunderstandings that occur when everything is verbal. They can do this immediately, so no reason not to get it even if you want the work done that day. My dentist's office does it routinely. If they won't do it upon request, I'd switch. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AK_Mom4 Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 The dentist that the kids use offers a "cash discount" - meaning that you get 15% off the bill if you pay it in full. I think asking about that would be very reasonable. And I second getting the written treatment plan in advance every single time. I then bring it to the appointment and if the dollar amounts don't match up, I ask for the expanation of the difference. So far, all the differences have been in my favor - they entered the wrong code when putting in the final bill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alice Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 I would also ask. Also, is it possible that they are covered under their health insurance. With the ACA most insurance plans have to include kid's dental coverage. Your dentist might not be covered, but it might be worth checking. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Misha Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 When you're paying outright, a lot of medical offices will allow you to pay under what the insurance would have paid them. It never hurts to ask. Best of luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butter Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 It never hurts to ask for a discount and it is highly likely if you pay in full they will give you one. Usually the forms you sign at a dentist/doctor say that your insurance is a contract between you and your company and it is your job to be sure the information you provide is accurate and you are actually covered by them and everything and if you are wrong or provide incorrect information, you are liable for the total cost. The usual and customary rate is a contract between the provider and the insurance company. Pretty much every insurance company will have a different UCR. If you are not actually covered by the insurance you think you are covered by, the dentist is under no obligation to even come close to the UCR you expected. But asking never hurts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lolly Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 It doesn't hurt to ask. I must tell you though, that when my kids had dental insurance, they would not have covered this anyway. It is elective. In addition, for fillings in teeth with cavities, they would only cover a small portion of the cost. Metal filling cost only. Little to nothing for pain medication during procedure. We dropped it because it really didn't cover anything. One dd ended up having extensive dental work due to an accident. Medical covered most of it. When we went in for her implants years later, medical wouldn't cover. The receptionist tsked over how it would be nice if we had dental insurance too. (Negligent parents for not!) I pointed out that it wouldn't have covered it anyway. Only a bridge with a flipper would be covered. The implant is considered to be cosmetic/not necessary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmandaVT Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 You can ask. My aunt works for a dentist and they'll negotiate for cash clients. All of the ones I have been to here, will not. I will say our insurance allows for $200/cavity filled and pays 50%, so we would owe $100/cavity. Insurance covers 2 cleanings and 1 set of xrays per year, 50% of everything after that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 15, 2015 Share Posted October 15, 2015 Most dentists have a cash pay discount - ours is 15% off if you lay by cash or check. In terms of dental fees that bill looks normal in size to me, they're not charging way outside the range typical of care providers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monstermama Posted October 15, 2015 Share Posted October 15, 2015 Ditto what Alice said - we were surprised that our new health insurance plan automatically includes routine dental and vision for kids (not sure if vision was part of ACA as well?). We still pay extra for the vision/dental coverage, but I think it's mostly for above-and-beyond type stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted October 15, 2015 Share Posted October 15, 2015 Well you can always ask, but I guess it's your responsibility to know if they have dental insurance or not, and what the fees will be ahead of time. So, I really would not hold them responsible. It is a bummer though. We never had dental insurance either, and I remember talking to my kids ahead of time about not allowing any extra work, extra x-rays, etc. Sometimes the office would call me in the middle of their appointment to verify! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoobie Posted October 15, 2015 Share Posted October 15, 2015 They might charge less than the insurance rate because they don't have to go to the hassle of collecting it. I second or third checking the children's health insurance policies first though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purplejackmama Posted October 15, 2015 Share Posted October 15, 2015 Absolutely. Call and ask for the cash discount. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsuga Posted October 15, 2015 Share Posted October 15, 2015 Yes, I would do so. And I wouldn't be ashamed to explain about the mix-up with insurance. That cost me a whole lot at one point and I did get it partially discounted but I should have asked for a payment plan as well. :P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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