Are people really getting this stupid?

[PlagueOfBadgers]

So I had to visit the dentist the other day and the dentist office estimated the vist to be around $185 dollars. When the visits was all said and done the total bill was 254.00

Dentist submitted the bill to my insurance for $254.00
My insurance negotiated the total payment for that day to be $162.00
The dentist office agrees with the insurance company on bill.
Insurance company pays $137.00 for visit leaving a balance of, my co-pay of $25.00.
I paid my $25.00 co-pay at time of visit.
Total payment made for the visit to dentist, $162.00, The negotiated amount!

Dentist sends me a bill for $23.00 outstanding balance.
After two phone calls and an hour of talking to the front desk people, they were trying to charge me for one of the xrays that cost $29.00, the agreed payment through my insurance was $6.00 total for that xray.
It's not my problem they did not like the negotiated amount.

 

[kiwigtx]

Sounds a lot like sellers remorse to me.
Dentists are not cheap...I have become very close to my Dentist lately, and not in the way that you might think.

 

[Aarons Air]

I get the impression now days that there is no longer a genuine concern for patients well being. It seems to be more of a business now.
I have an x brother inlaw who is a dr. He's bragged about going on vacations paid for by whatever pill mfr he currently uses.
What gets me is, insurance companies can negotiate bills where as an uninsured cash paying " customer " doesn't have that option.

 

[GetX'd]

I get the impression now days that there is no longer a genuine concern for patients well being. It seems to be more of a business now.
I have an x brother inlaw who is a dr. He's bragged about going on vacations paid for by whatever pill mfr he currently uses.
What gets me is, insurance companies can negotiate bills where as an uninsured cash paying " customer " doesn't have that option.

That’s true about the uninsured not having the option to negotiate their bills like the insurance company does. That has always bothered me too. Fortunately I’ve always have insurance so I’ve never had to deal with the problem but I feel for those that don’t have insurance.

 

[Budnicks]

My dad's Dentist does the same ****
he or I constantly have to deal with that type of ****
99.9% of the time it's already part of the agreed amount...
The Accountant & the Ins. don't always see, eye to eye
they go after the 1st party/patient 1st...

Even worse when you have to deal with Medicare,
or Humana supplemental ins....

I usually tell them to talk to the insurance co.,
unless it's above the max allotted $$$ amount
that can be done in a year, then your stuck...

I hate Dr.'s & I have 2 of them, as a brother & a sister
seems the Dr.'s accountant is always trying to get more $$$
when the insurance co. lowballs them & pays 40%
national industry std., they agreed to...

Good luck

 

[YY1]

but there are different rates for uninsured patients, with a shockingly lower (but still quite high) price for most procedures.

such a big mess with many moving parts (hands in the till)

simply trying to fix one of them will never fix anything.

 

[Dibbons]

A real dental town:

https://www.npr.org/sections/health...ican-town-is-a-destination-for-dental-tourism

I had all my childhood amalgam fillings re-done with composite fillings about 15 years ago in Tijuana, Mexico. The dentist accepted my USA insurance plan for full payment.

 

[Richard Cranium]

 

[PlagueOfBadgers]

My dad's Dentist does the same ****
he or I constantly have to deal with that type of ****
99.9% of the time it's already part of the agreed amount...
The Accountant & the Ins. don't always see, eye to eye
they go after the 1st party/patient 1st...

Even worse when you have to deal with Medicare,
or Humana supplemental ins....

I usually tell them to talk to the insurance co.,
unless it's above the max allotted $$$ amount
that can be done in a year, then your stuck...

I hate Dr.'s & I have 2 of them, as a brother & a sister
seems the Dr.'s accountant is always trying to get more $$$
when the insurance co. lowballs them & pays 40%
national industry std., they agreed to...

Good luck

I forgot to mention, after the hour long conversation explaining the process and breakdown of what was and what is, I do not have to pay the $23.

 

[Budnicks]

I forgot to mention, after the hour long conversation explaining the process and breakdown of what was and what is, I do not have to pay the $23.

good

 

[Budnicks]

why is it dubbed in {I assume} Russian too ?

 

[multimopes]

It's not my problem they did not like the negotiated amount.[/QUOTE]

I agree, happens all the time these days. If you can choose another dentist in the area, go there next time. When this happens to me I jokingly tell them I'd be happy to send them a stool sample instead. Good luck with the claim! Usually these things work themselves out but don't hold your breath!

But in answer to the Title of this thread, YES, they really are getting this stupid!

 

[Officer Higgins]

I would wait till around closing time on sunny friday afternoon then let the four of you discuss the outstanding charges. Your dentist, you, and Smith and Wesson.

 

[steve from staten island]

The Dentist does not do the billing, someone in the office does it. The dentists accountant also does not do the billing either, the accountant does the taxes/books. Insurance companies are tough to deal with, most decent sized practices have a person whose only job is dealing with insurances. Some dentists have what is referred to as a insurance practice, meaning they take all or part of your dental insurance, assuming you have dental insurance. Other dentists dont take your insurance, they will of course fill out forms so you can make claims. You pay your dentist and what you get back is what you get back.
You might notice as i did that dentist who take your insurance always seem to want you to come back or spread out your appointments so you always seem to be visiting your dentist

 

[steve from staten island]

I would wait till around closing time on sunny friday afternoon then let the four of you discuss the outstanding charges. Your dentist, you, and Smith and Wesson.

LOL then spend the weekend in lockup waiting to be arraigned on Monday

 

[kiwigtx]

When this happens to me I jokingly tell them I'd be happy to send them a stool sample instead. ................................. Usually these things work themselves out

(edited somewhat for S & G)

 

[multimopes]

Actually, I haven't had a problem with a Dentist in over 30 years. Other doctors or hospital bills, yes. In my case, my dentist is not only a nice guy but shares my last name! We joke about possibly having had distant relatives come over on the Mayflower!
Last Year when I was making a co-pay to him, I wrote on the checks memo area: "Thanks to you, I can chew!"

 

[Officer Higgins]

1% charges dropped and dental charges dropped also may have to change underwear too.

 

[PlagueOfBadgers]

The Dentist does not do the billing, someone in the office does it. The dentists accountant also does not do the billing either, the accountant does the taxes/books. Insurance companies are tough to deal with, most decent sized practices have a person whose only job is dealing with insurances. Some dentists have what is referred to as a insurance practice, meaning they take all or part of your dental insurance, assuming you have dental insurance. Other dentists dont take your insurance, they will of course fill out forms so you can make claims. You pay your dentist and what you get back is what you get back.
You might notice as i did that dentist who take your insurance always seem to want you to come back or spread out your appointments so you always seem to be visiting your dentist

I should have explained a bit better who I was pointing my frustration at. Yes, I was referring to the billing staff not the dentist himself. He is a great guy and I have no issues with him or his work.
Someone in the billing department needs help. She continued to tell me the insurance company combined both xrays, paid in full for one and only paid 6 dollars for the other xray. I tried explaining to her, yes both xrays were put together as one charge and a new amount was agreed upon. She kept telling me but there were 2 xrays billed. It took some time but I was able to get her to understand what happen and she remove the bill. Whether she understood the who, what, when, where and why, I don't care, it's gone with an email showing satisfied.

 

[multimopes]

I always like a story with a happy ending! LOL