Question

I was at the dentist last week and found out that I have almost $4K in dental work and my employer provided insurance will cover $2, 500 of the cost leaving me with close to $1, 500 exhausting all my benefits for the year. Does anyone know how I might get financial assistance for dental or even a better insurance? I'm currently with Regence BlueShield. One suggestion was to open up a CareCredit account if approved and take the 0% APR for 15 months, but I'm really trying to avoid opening up any more accounts and I just paid off CareCredit about a year ago.  

Answer 1

I was going to suggest CareCredit. Don’t know of any other options, but hopefully someone else does.  

Answer 2

I had to have gum grafting a couple years ago, also $4, 000. I used CareCredit. I already had an account with them from a previous procedure. If you've used them before, did you close your account? I would call their customer service and ask if you're account is still active and what your credit limit is. My credit limit increased with them after I paid off my first procedure.  

Answer 3

Check if Costco has dental insurance available in your state. I’m in Washington it’s $153 a year.  

Comments

@spelunker9 hey how does this work? Do you walk into guest services & ask?  

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@tentacle47 google Costco dental, then put in your zip code etc. I’m very happy w the coverage. It’s a delta dental plan

Answer 4

Honestly, regence is one of the better insurance plans. Finding comprehensive dental coverage is rare. You possibly could try to save that money in advance or get fewer procedures at a time to limit the cost. Costs also vary by dentist so maybe call around

Answer 5

After not having good dental insurance for years I had a lot of work to be done. I am super picky àbout dentists and am so glad ai went with the dentist I did. They are really great about showing me the cost breakdown and working with me. I always asked things like what needs to be done right now and what can I hold off a little on? My aunt just told me how her dentist retired and handed off his practice to another dentist and the first time she and my adult cousin went in on separate appointments they were both told they needed like ridiculous amounts of work done. The old dentist wasn't being negligent, but he had probably held off on some things knowing their financial situations and the new guy was like when you get your oil çhanged and they find every possible anything that could possibly be done. air filter, etc. I'd ask how much needs to be done right away like a cavity filled etc and what is less crucial and try to space stuff out so you can do closer to paying as you go. This may not work if it's 1 big procedure or all urgent and it doesn't completely solve the problem but depending on your scenario it may help. I need a tooth pulled and an implant and I don't think any insurance covers implants.  

Comments

My insurance covers the implant partially.  

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@albrecht For real? Can you tell me brand? Mine isn't due to an injury or anything but I am a federal employee so can choose from a variety of plans. I know it would be be the same, but would love to find one that does.  

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@conduction, it’s through my work insurance. I have Cigna.  

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@albrecht interesting because Cigna is who does the union insurance which is an option that comes highly recommended to me. I just got all the info. to start comparing.  

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Oh ok. Look for the one that covers cosmetic.  

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Our major dental

Answer 6

Search for a low cost / free dental clinic in your area. Look for a dental school that needs practice patients. See if you can postpone some of the work until 2021.  

Comments

This is a great idea. I had two friends that were in school to become hygienist's and they told me how hard it was to find practice patients

Answer 7

If you can, wait until one or two weeks before the yearly expiration/renewal of the insurance and use this year and the next all together. Now you have 5k. I just did it weeks ago

Answer 8

Can you do some work this year and some work next year? I have had to do this in the past in order to try to pay as little out of pocket as possible.  

Answer 9

Go get a second opinion before you do anything else. Dentistry is very subjective.  

Comments

@quindecennial Agreed. Especially after hearing the shady practices going on at Aspen Dental across the country. @concertante76454, if you contact your insurance you should be able to find another in-network dentist to see cost comparison in addition to getting a second opinion. I had to get a crown on my tooth last year, the dentist I had been going to since childhood was going to charge me twice the amount that my new dentist did. I'm much happier with my experiences at my new dentist's as well!  

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@capri Lol ok

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@capri A round-trip flight to Mexico (or driving there) would have cost more and taken more time than my dental surgery cost at the office down my street

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@capri If @concertante76454 lives near Mexico, sure, that's a viable option

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If your comment was meant for @concertante76454%2C/activity" class="qa-user-link">concertante76454, why didn't you comment on the actual post vs @quindecennial's comment? It seemed like you were trying to open up a conversation than speaking to @concertante76454 and giving him a helpful suggestion.  

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@capri There's no need to get upset, dude.  

Answer 10

You paid off CareCredit? Is your account still open? I believe the promotion runs depending on the amount of the charge, not when you got the card. If you don't have CareCredit anymore, I would still suggest opening and keeping that account. The higher your available credit, the higher your score, which can help offset the dip from an additional inquiry. No sense in paying interest for a couple points that can easily be increased with a credit limit bump or a debt paydown. Other options: Ask if there's any negotiation on fees like the people above suggest. Let them know this is a little above your price point and want to check around before you commit to this procedure. Even if they don't negotiate with you, it's worth getting that second opinion. Income-based dentists have a sliding scale. Given what sounds like a great insurance program you have, I don't know if you qualify, but it's worth googling/asking income-based dentists in your area and finding out what the limits are. I know many people in my area without insurance and I recommend it every time. There are good dentists out there that can help you. Dental schools/colleges: Our local hygienist program offers cleanings/whitening from the students for next to nothing, and schools that train actual dentists can do procedures under the supervision of a licensed professional. Sesamecare. com offers services from health professionals for flat fees. They don't have dentists in the towns you listed, but for me they have some in the nearest Metropolis. Even if you can't save on this work, you might be able to find savings for other health needs, even without insurance, and that could help offset this cost.