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Medical Forum / General / Dentistry / November 2005Question re crown
I am going in for a crown on #30. It is covered by Delta PMI "insurance". My question is: What should I watch out for in terms of getting the old "bait and switch" routine? Are there things the dentist can/will try to sell me on that Delta does not cover, that I do not really need? Because every time I go in for any kind of work, it always seems they find something to bill me for that Delta doesn't cover. If possible I'd like to avoid that. Any tips? By the way, no need to give me the "insurance is a rip off" speech, I already know that. I just want to get what benefit I might out of it before it ends in December. > I am going in for a crown on #30. It is covered by Delta PMI > "insurance". [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > already know that. I just want to get what benefit I might out of it > before it ends in December. My mind doesn't work that way ;-). The only thing I can think of is that the dentist may ask if you wish to have the "good" lab do the crown for only an extra $300. Steve > My question is: What should I watch out for in terms of getting the > old "bait and switch" routine? Are there things the dentist can/will > try to sell me on that Delta does not cover The typical HMO office will simply not make any crowns with the materials covered by the HMO plan. If you want a crown, they will only use metals or porcelains not covered by the plan, so you pay full fee out of pocket. What is so hard to figure out ? You cannot get good care at a dental HMO clinic. Unless the dental office just signed up with the HMO for the first time, and they have realized what a mistake they made yet.  Signature/ Amatus / > >> I am going in for a crown on #30. It is covered by Delta PMI [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > Steve >> My question is: What should I watch out for in terms of getting the >> old "bait and switch" routine? Are there things the dentist can/will [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >Unless the dental office just signed up with the HMO for the first time, and >they have realized what a mistake they made yet. Not HMO. Delta PMI, reduced fees. > Not HMO. Delta PMI, reduced fees Betcha a nickel you cannot get a crown made of the type the office has to discount the price on. I bet you they only make crowns that are not covered. I could be wrong, but that is what usually happens. Signature/ Amatus / > >>> My question is: What should I watch out for in terms of getting the [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] >>they have realized what a mistake they made yet. > Not HMO. Delta PMI, reduced fees. >> Not HMO. Delta PMI, reduced fees > >Betcha a nickel you cannot get a crown made of the type the office has to >discount the price on. I bet you they only make crowns that are not >covered. I could be wrong, but that is what usually happens. I betcha a plugged nickel. -- W_B Take out the G'RBAGE wubbabubbazG@RBAGEyahoo.com >> Not HMO. Delta PMI, reduced fees > >Betcha a nickel you cannot get a crown made of the type the office has to >discount the price on. I bet you they only make crowns that are not >covered. I could be wrong, but that is what usually happens. I'll let you know. If I can get that info. >Not HMO. Delta PMI, reduced fees. Same thing Dilbert. -- W_B Take out the G'RBAGE wubbabubbazG@RBAGEyahoo.com > I am going in for a crown on #30. It is covered by Delta PMI > "insurance". [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > already know that. I just want to get what benefit I might out of it > before it ends in December. _______________________________ OK, I won't give you the "insurance is a rip off" speech because PMI really isn't dental insurance. It's a capitation dental plan, but you already knew that. And anyway, sometimes even the real dental insurance works, just not for everybody. That aside, you probably know that a dentist can't make a living making crowns at the average capitation rate. So how is he going to make your crown? With a laboratory known for its quality of crown fabrication, or with a lab known for its cheap prices? (Note: they are NOT the same lab.) Can a dentist afford to re-do an impression if the first one isn't perfect? If he's pressed for time under the capitation low-fee pressure cooker, won't it be tempting to use whatever impression results on the first try, even if it has a bubble on the margin? And won't he feel pressured to cement the crown as quickly as possible when it comes back from the lab, regardless of the degree of precision fit? The dentist knows that you didn't choose him based upon any reputation he might have for careful attention to quality dental treatment. You chose him because he's cheap. He knows it and you know it. You're losing the dental plan next month, and he knows you won't be coming back. So why should he care how well the crown fits? Of course, if you pay extra for a decent crown, then he could afford to put more effort into making sure it's done right. That's where the bait-and-switch might come in. But if this dental operation is the type that tries to bait-and-switch you, can you really trust them to use the extra bait-and-switch money to give you better quality? Or will they just put the cash in their pocket? I don't know. These questions should initiate some careful thought before the treatment commences. Best regards, - dentaldoc > you probably know that a dentist can't make a living making > crowns at the average capitation rate. So how is he going to make your > crown? With a laboratory known for its quality of crown fabrication, or > with a lab known for its cheap prices? (Note: they are NOT the same > lab.) .... Further, they mightn't be the same materials, either. SP SignatureTake out the TRAASH to reply >> I am going in for a crown on #30. It is covered by Delta PMI >> "insurance". [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] >You're losing the dental plan next month, and he knows you won't be >coming back. So why should he care how well the crown fits? You see, this is the part I don't get. He does NOT know I am losing my insurance next month. And if he treated me well, and fairly, I might indeed come back to him, insurance or no insurance. Also I find it difficult to understand the mentality of someone who would put in a sub-standard crown just to save or make a few more bucks. I think a lot of this debate of dental insurance just comes down to dealing with greedy, sub-standard dentists who don't give a damn and are morally bankrupt. > Also I find it difficult to understand the mentality of someone who > would put in a sub-standard crown just to save or make a few more > bucks. I think a lot of this debate of dental insurance just comes > down to dealing with greedy, sub-standard dentists who don't give a > damn and are morally bankrupt. We all agree with you there. However, the typical HMO clinic will sign on to an HMO plan _only_ if the plan has "EXCLUSIONS". Most HMO plans will not offer coverage for full porcelain crowns, for high nubile gold crowns, or for PFM crowns with a high content of precious metal in it. The HMO clinic then, chooses to _only_ do these types of crowns. Do you understand how this works yet ? Signature/ Amatus / > >>> I am going in for a crown on #30. It is covered by Delta PMI [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > down to dealing with greedy, sub-standard dentists who don't give a > damn and are morally bankrupt. >> Also I find it difficult to understand the mentality of someone who >> would put in a sub-standard crown just to save or make a few more [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] >clinic then, chooses to _only_ do these types of crowns. Do you >understand how this works yet ? This seems to be the case with the PPO plan, too: they sell you on the more expensive procedures and materials. Yes, I get it. >These questions should initiate some careful thought before the >treatment commences. > >Best regards, > >- dentaldoc If the only tool you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. -- W_B Take out the G'RBAGE wubbabubbazG@RBAGEyahoo.com >I am going in for a crown on #30. It is covered by Delta PMI >"insurance". You can't fool me. I read you are really going in for cleaning. >My question is: What should I watch out for in terms of getting the >old "bait and switch" routine? Are there things the dentist can/will [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >already know that. I just want to get what benefit I might out of it >before it ends in December. >>I am going in for a crown on #30. It is covered by Delta PMI >>"insurance". > >You can't fool me. I read you are really going in for cleaning. I wasn't even going to reply to this, but ... I don't know if you're making some kind of joke or what, but no, I'm going in for a crown. I wanted to get the cleaning, too, but I am going to at least go in for the crown. This dentist did a filling for me and he gave me the impression that he did a very good job. IF he's have given me the cleaning exam I asked for within a reaonable time, and if he did a good job on my crown via insurance, I might have stayed with him next year for future dental work. Now, I am doubtful, since he refuses to schedule the wife's and my dental cleanings until February. >>I am going in for a crown on #30. It is covered by Delta PMI >>"insurance". > >You can't fool me. I read you are really going in for cleaning. Cleaning out the wallet. Highly recommended. -- W_B Take out the G'RBAGE wubbabubbazG@RBAGEyahoo.com |
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