Advice Needed Re: Lapse of Dental Coverage

[Perd Hapley]

Coming from someone who uses a computer keyboard like a blunt instrument, I think I'll pass.

Thank you. 

[Scout26]

My experience as well.  I had one dentist mention it, in 1978.  Nobody else said a word about it, until the current guy, last year.

Does he have a kid in college?  Need to make a payment on the new Beemer?

[280plus]

Yes, don't forget to play the "In the military paying out of my pocket" card if you go to delvecchio.

[lee n. field]

Does he have a kid in college?  Need to make a payment on the new Beemer?

This guy (who does impress me with his ability) looked at the x-ray, and sent me off to an oral surgeon.  "Extraction of unusual difficulty" was what was on the bill.  Where it was, they were all afraid of damaging the nerve.  My teeth have deep roots.

[MillCreek]

Nerve damage during the extraction of wisdom teeth is one of the more common malpractice claims against dentists and oral surgeons.

[Devonai]

Thanks again for all the helpful advice.  Many of you have given me hope that this procedure won't break the bank like I'd feared.  Tomorrow I'll start making appointments.

[Boomhauer]

Giga, I would be over the moon at this point if it was only $250!  As it stands I have yet to take myself in for an estimate.  I am worried it could be well over a grand.  I hope you're right.  Avenger, do you recall the cost?  Fortunately I only have one tooth to worry about.

Grampster, I'll shop around and get the lowest interest rate.   If I get a deal like Giga then I won't need one.

Under $2k was the rate for my WT removal.

[Devonai]

I know of a world inhabited by Tooth Critters in the Besser Expanse.  They will do the work for a half pound of enamel.

So I just need to find half a pound of someone else's teeth and they'll help me out?  I don't think that will be a problem.  There are, however, the travel costs.

Under $2k was the rate for my WT removal.

Gotcha.  I hope it ends up being >2k/4 for me.

[Devonai]

Thanks again for all of the helpful advice.  I had the work done today at a local place.  I was set back $150 for the x-rays, $480 for the procedure, and $40 for the drugs.  Split between cash and a credit card, I made out about as well as I'd hoped.  Now if the other three wisdom teeth stay put, I won't have to go through that again.

[never_retreat]

Try to get your regular dentist to write it up as needing to see an oral surgeon.
Then your regular medical should cover it.
My medical covered the trip for removing the wisdom teeth.

[Devonai]

No health insurance either.  Lost that after my last drill, too.  I can still go to the VA for emergencies, blood tests, and routine care, but not dentistry.

[gunsmith]

glad everything came out OK. NV has something called "access to health" orsomething like that, dental insurance for like 500 a yr or something, I may join this summer- my grill needs serious work. I had a terrible toothache a few months ago.

[Scout26]

Thanks again for all of the helpful advice.  I had the work done today at a local place.  I was set back $150 for the x-rays, $480 for the procedure, and $40 for the drugs.  Split between cash and a credit card, I made out about as well as I'd hoped.  Now if the other three wisdom teeth stay put, I won't have to go through that again.

Does this mean I have to put back all of Fistful's teeth I took out while practicing?

[Fitz]

Not sure if i'm understanding this correctly, but i'll try to help.

You say you lost your tricare reserve select, and you didn't have your employers plan?

On my employer's plan, loss of any other coverage is a "qualifying life event" and thus not subject to the open enrollment period.

Have you looked into that?

[Devonai]

Yeah, I only had thirty days to submit a new application to Aetna.  My last drill was 23 March and I found out about the mandatory dental work 7 May.  A smart person would have anticipated this problem and signed up sooner.  This does not diminish my opinion of Aetna's policies, however.