Monday, June 27, 2011

Oh Those Pearly Whites

Here is an example of how Insurance works and no one complains to the MP's about this.

I remember to pull a tooth used to cost 50 dollars. Then it increased to 100.00 dollars.
Then they introduced dental insurance. People bought it but noticed it didn't cover all dental work but they were told it was good because it paid for 80% for things it did cover.
Sounds great so far.

Next time you go to the dentist to pull a tooth though, you find the price skyrockets to 350 .00 dollars , without the plan and
80% of which is paid with the plan.
Do the math.
Overnight, because the dental organization saw that people had help to pay for their teeth, they increased their prices 250%.
So the client has to pay for a dental plan whether or not he uses it, plus 20 % of 350.00 dollars it now costs to pull the tooth.
Now they also demand because you are covered by insurance, to take many x rays and to make holes in good teeth, for what they say are microscopic cavities, which may or not may not be controlled or eliminated by the use of listerine and regular brushing. These tiny cavities are drilled into big holes which require fillings and these fillings come out when flossed and need to be redone creating more expensive work for the dental organization to save the tooth and possibly a loss of an otherwise healthy tooth. A rebuilt tooth is a lot more expensive to maintain than your own.

So your premiums on the insurance policy, find many good reasons to go up, to help you keep your teeth in good health.
Most of this is a waste but the idea is sold, to so many people,who really do not know what it is they are agreeing to and no one brings this financial abuse to the government or the insurance companies,
who don't care.
By supporting dental plans, people are making it very difficult for those who cannot afford insurance or even the payments with insurance which now almost triples the price of visiting the dentist.
Without dental plans, healthy competition between dentists for customers, could very well decrease the prices, where by every one would be able to afford a dentist and pay much less than with dental plans.

I'm just sayin. lol
Used to be you got a tooth ache, you went to the dentist and told him it hurts here.
He'd look, see what the problem was and fix it.
After he fixes it he could have a conversation with you about what other things need be done.
Today you go in with a tooth ache, they make you suffer a whole procedure, before getting to the point of the matter.
They always leave what you came for, last.

Have a great day!
:)

6 comments:

Betsy Brock said...

It is a ripoff!! We don't have any dental insurance. I'm in shock every time one of us goes. The prices are incredible.

A Lady's Life said...

Well it is because people have dental plans that they can get away with such things. These are prime issues people need to get their MP's and government to address.
They give you health care etc.. and then use it as an excuse to increase prices so it becomes unaffordable .
Every one knows how to increase spending but the job we pay these MP's to do is to save money for people. Do the most for the least and most of them do not know how to do this.
So instead of one person suffering, many suffer but no one talks about them.

If you remember nuclear power was discovered in order to help people. Instead it is used as a weapon of mas destruction.People may not be responsible, but this is why we elect governments to speak for the people, to stop abuse. Well today the abuse is financial. I bet if people were taxed less and allowed to keep their money in their own pockets, things would be better.

Akelamalu said...

On the NHS there are three NHS charge bands.
Band 1: £17 includes an examination, diagnosis and advice. If necessary, it also includes X-rays, a scale and polish and planning for further treatment.
Band 2: £47 includes all treatment covered by Band 1, plus additional treatment, such as fillings, root canal treatment and removing teeth (extractions).
Band 3: £204 includes all treatment covered by Bands 1 and 2, plus more complex procedures, such as crowns, dentures and bridges.

Most dentists have private plans one can join or you can pay privately for better quality dentures, veneers etc.

I've yet to see a 'poor' dentist.

A Lady's Life said...

Oh the dentists are not poor. They know their job but the prices they charge is another story and the dental plans make the prices higher.
If there were no plans the dentists would know people could not afford them and then keep them the prices they are supposed to be for the job they have to do. Today they look to see if you have a plan and then decide what treatment you need and overcharge.

I know when I take my son to the dentist, the dentist forces him to take xrays all the time and I object and am made to be the bad guy.He says they are to see the little things starting up. Does he need to know that?
My other son had wisdom teeth he worried about pulling so he took very good care of them with listerine. The dentist couldn't figure out why he had no reason to pull them.
And then....flossing fillings?
Well this just helps them fall out again.

The prices of the dentures have gone way up as well. People without plans can't afford them but they are still the same dentures my Father had for 500 dollars.

I mean....these are just teeth. Not a heart transplant. It shouldn't be so expensive people need plans for them.Also dentists need to be competitive to keep prices low, not standard.

Maude Lynn said...

I had never thought about it that way!

A Lady's Life said...

Mama Zen - Neither did I until I sat down one day and began to calculate.
We have a health care system as well that is suffering for the same reason.
Too much financial abuse.