Editorialist
New Member
I thought the advantages of getting a Medicare Advantage policy would finally allow me to at long last be able to afford dental care which is much needed in my later years of life over traditional Medicare policies, plus the fact I had Medicaid which had always picked up the tab for the rest of my medical expenses. Well lo and behold these policies are not what you think they are.
In dealing with Medicare Advantage policies that cover dental care more and more dentists are no allowing such coverage even though your handbook state they do.
The same even applies to Medicaid. I was shocked at a dental office that only accepted Medicaid and did not accept Medicare or Medicare Advantage patients and yet turned me down. The reason I went was I had a problem tooth and my regular doctor looked at it and said it was rotten, something I have never experience with my other problem teeth. She further stated I needed to have it removed quickly because it could result in the necessity of have a root canal procedure being performed. I did not want to go through such an ordeal and ended up in this dentist’s office.
And this is not the end of the story. The dentist proceeded to tell me the tooth had to be removed ASAP or it would lead to an infection that could travel to my eyes and brain and eventfully to my death. I was in a state of shock. Now I had to pay about $130.00 for the exam and then now pay an additional some $375.00 extra to have the tooth extracted
On top of that I could have had the procedure done at a much closer dentist who quoted the same price and his office was only three miles from my home where this other dentist’s office was about 15 miles away
In addition the dentist said he could do an implant and provide dentures to replace some of the extracted teeth which will probably run in the thousands of dollars. There is no way I can afford to pay for all of this.
When I got home, I called my Social Service worker who handles my Medicaid coverage and she said I made too much income for Medicaid to cover dental expenses and that I only had coverage for medical expenses. In order to qualify for dental benefits I would have to have a monthly income of less than about $802.00 monthly. I now have a monthly income of at least #1,020 Social Security plus about $375.00 in savings and another checking account.
It is truly a shame such discrepancies exist in the systems designed to help people pay for all medical care. It is also a disgrace that Medicare will not pay for dental, eye and hearing costs. People don’t realize that untreated dental problems can lead to other medical problems which could result in death and other illnesses. Not only this but in prescription drug coverage why must have that so called do nut hole inserted in our coverage; it make no sense at all to have such a situation which makes such so called affordable coverage impossible.
Clearly our health coverage system has too many flaws in it that desperately need to be fixed and fixed NOW!
People please be aware of what your plans cover. If you seek a new doctor or dentist call them before you make an appointment and see if they approve of your plan and it is in their system. Do the same with Medicaid. There is much deceptive advertising out there. In the medical profession “all that glitters is not gold”.
In dealing with Medicare Advantage policies that cover dental care more and more dentists are no allowing such coverage even though your handbook state they do.
The same even applies to Medicaid. I was shocked at a dental office that only accepted Medicaid and did not accept Medicare or Medicare Advantage patients and yet turned me down. The reason I went was I had a problem tooth and my regular doctor looked at it and said it was rotten, something I have never experience with my other problem teeth. She further stated I needed to have it removed quickly because it could result in the necessity of have a root canal procedure being performed. I did not want to go through such an ordeal and ended up in this dentist’s office.
And this is not the end of the story. The dentist proceeded to tell me the tooth had to be removed ASAP or it would lead to an infection that could travel to my eyes and brain and eventfully to my death. I was in a state of shock. Now I had to pay about $130.00 for the exam and then now pay an additional some $375.00 extra to have the tooth extracted
On top of that I could have had the procedure done at a much closer dentist who quoted the same price and his office was only three miles from my home where this other dentist’s office was about 15 miles away
In addition the dentist said he could do an implant and provide dentures to replace some of the extracted teeth which will probably run in the thousands of dollars. There is no way I can afford to pay for all of this.
When I got home, I called my Social Service worker who handles my Medicaid coverage and she said I made too much income for Medicaid to cover dental expenses and that I only had coverage for medical expenses. In order to qualify for dental benefits I would have to have a monthly income of less than about $802.00 monthly. I now have a monthly income of at least #1,020 Social Security plus about $375.00 in savings and another checking account.
It is truly a shame such discrepancies exist in the systems designed to help people pay for all medical care. It is also a disgrace that Medicare will not pay for dental, eye and hearing costs. People don’t realize that untreated dental problems can lead to other medical problems which could result in death and other illnesses. Not only this but in prescription drug coverage why must have that so called do nut hole inserted in our coverage; it make no sense at all to have such a situation which makes such so called affordable coverage impossible.
Clearly our health coverage system has too many flaws in it that desperately need to be fixed and fixed NOW!
People please be aware of what your plans cover. If you seek a new doctor or dentist call them before you make an appointment and see if they approve of your plan and it is in their system. Do the same with Medicaid. There is much deceptive advertising out there. In the medical profession “all that glitters is not gold”.
