Just because it's available no reason to use all my Medicare Advantage dental coverage

Knight

Knight

Well-known Member
Funny thing happened on Friday at my dental appointment for a tooth extraction.
The dental assistant was really cheerful. She told me that I had enough money left in my Medicare Advantage dental coverage to pay for an implant.

I asked her what the advantage was to have an implant. Top of the list was to continue my facial appearance. Next the teeth on either side of the tooth that would be removed wouldn't curve in to the empty space. Last was better chewing of my food.

I pointed out that the only other tooth was removed in 1959. I didn't opt for the implant because I am healthy, have no problems chewing food, my face didn't distort all these years & truth be told facial distortion at my age won't matter.
 

I have a couple of dental implants, and they've been great for years. I don't remember what we paid for them, but it was likely what @Michael Z said.

That said, if you don't want or need them, don't do it!
 

Devi said:
I have a couple of dental implants, and they've been great for years. I don't remember what we paid for them, but it was likely what @Michael Z said.

That said, if you don't want or need them, don't do it!
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I have all my teeth except the one removed in 1959 & now his one. Dental health has always been a priority for me. Getting an implant just because it wouldn't cost me anything just didn't seem right to me.
 
If your plan is like mine the benefit resets first of the year. Last year I didn't use any of my dental money so had the dentist put the money as a credit on my account. I wasn't sure it would work but it did, I need to do it again this year.
 
C50 said:
If your plan is like mine the benefit resets first of the year. Last year I didn't use any of my dental money so had the dentist put the money as a credit on my account. I wasn't sure it would work but it did, I need to do it again this year.
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Mine resets to $4,000.00. Other than routine cleaning & x-rays I doubt I'll come close to using that amount.
 
C50 said:
If your plan is like mine the benefit resets first of the year. Last year I didn't use any of my dental money so had the dentist put the money as a credit on my account. I wasn't sure it would work but it did, I need to do it again this year.
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Isn't the act of making a claim when there is none fraud?

Doesn't that claim negatively effect the companies shareholders and other policy holders?

I could never trust a dentist that would do that. Do you think he only rips off insurance companies or does he rip off his patients too?
 
againstthegrain said:
Isn't the act of making a claim when there is none fraud?

Doesn't that claim negatively effect the companies shareholders and other policy holders?

I could never trust a dentist that would do that. Do you think he only rips off insurance companies or does he rip off his patients too?
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Cool your jets. There was no "fraud", that would only be if the dentist billed for services that never happened. I specifically had them enter it as a "credit", the insurance company could have rejected it, but didn't. Lastly the dentist himself has nothing to do with billing, that goes thru their billing specialist.
 
my medicare advantage plan pays a whole $1000 which was gone after the first visit because dentists charge whatever they want. paid out of pocket for tooth extraction to a tune of $1450. Now they want to do some sort of prep work for the implant, another $2400. I think the implant "toof" is prolly another $2K. What a racket. i need it though because i have a huge space now and I can't chew on that side. next year i will have a different medicare advantage plan and the woman tells me they won't pay (surprise surprise surprise) for a tooth extraction/implant preexisting thingy that happened last year. i hate the dentist.
 
I've had dental insurance for decades....and outside of annual cleanings and minor fillings, it has seemed hardly worth it. Earlier this year I finally got tired of blowing money on crowns, and partials, etc., and had all my remaining teeth pulled and ordered a deluxe set of dentures. I've had a temporary set of dentures, and a couple of re-fittings as the gums healed, and should get my permanent dentures in early December. I was pleasantly surprised when the insurance company covered 1/3rd of the cost....much more than I expected. I cancelled the insurance a couple of months ago, and the permanent dentures have a warranty that may "outlast" me.
 
My dear father, had to get new fangs, as he called them. I'm going back 25 years ago now, as his old false teeth had become very loose. When he eventually got the new teeth he asked my mother, "How do you think they look"? to which she replied, "You look like a donkey" to which my father took them out and put them in the drawer and put his old teeth back, and he had to put that powder into them so they wouldn't flap about.
 
AnneTeak said:
my medicare advantage plan pays a whole $1000 which was gone after the first visit because dentists charge whatever they want. paid out of pocket for tooth extraction to a tune of $1450. Now they want to do some sort of prep work for the implant, another $2400. I think the implant "toof" is prolly another $2K. What a racket. i need it though because i have a huge space now and I can't chew on that side. next year i will have a different medicare advantage plan and the woman tells me they won't pay (surprise surprise surprise) for a tooth extraction/implant preexisting thingy that happened last year. i hate the dentist.
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That reflects the costs of one (lower) I had done recently. About $6000 for the extraction, implant, abutment and crown. The entire process took around eight months.
 

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