Question:
I enrolled in the "American Dental Plan" in Phoenix, Arizona. The touted
benefits were a "free" initial exam, and reduced fees from participating
dentists. I had a toothache and made an appointment with one of their
participating dentists for an exam. They x rayed the tooth, and the
dentist briefly looked at it and advised a root canal. I did not doubt
that there was decay under the crown, but maintained that the toothache
seemed to be coming from a tooth further along. It was explained that
there was no time to look at any other teeth at that time nor to take
other x rays, and that I would have to make another appointment for the
complete exam. The charge for this exam was $35, which seemed reasonable,
but I had thought I was getting the regular "free" exam. Nevertheless I
mad an appointment for the "free exam" for the earliest available date
which was a month away. On arrival I was asked to pay $140 up front for
the standard exam. I asked what all the "free" was about, and was told I
misunderstood the American Dental Plan. Unfortunately I did not have
their brochure with me, and after having waited over a month and driven
40 miles to their office, gave them the benefit of the doubt (along with
my credit card for $140!). These x rays showed, among other things, decay
in the tooth in the area where I had complained of toothache a month
earlier. It would seem that they should have x rayed the teeth on either
side at that time. On looking up the brochure with American Dental it
definitely stated that the initial exam was at no charge.
I have so far spent nearly $230 on the American Dental fee and exam fees,
without any treatment. The course of treatment recommended included among
other things, two crowns at $577 each. Is this a discounted price? It
seems very high to me!
Right now I am under the impression that both the Dental Plan and the
dentist have ripped me off, and believe I should cut my losses and say
adious to both of them, and seek local recommendations for a reputable
dentist outside this rip-off plan.
Answer:
Here's a couple of cliches for you: You get what you pay for. If it's too
good to be true, it probably is. People think $11.95 gets them "free"
dental care? Apply the commonsense test to anything before signing.
Personally, I'd like to see all of the scam-the-public "insurance" plans go
under. They create false ideas in patient's heads. Just remember, if it
seems like a great deal for you, but a lousy deal for the dentist and
insurance company, you're getting ripped off.
Sad to say, you are correct. We have these discount plans around here and
there are oodles and oodles of dentists signed up for them. I think that
they must bait-and-switch the dental patients as you have been
baited-and-switched!
This is one reason why we dentists are bearing the brunt of this
"business-attitude-as-usual" instead of being seen as true ancillary medical
professionals!
Agreed, but this did not sound too good to be true, as it would seem a
reasonable tradeoff for a dentist to give an exam at no charge in return
for a new customer. In my case I need over $2500 of dental work, but I
won't be going back to this greedy scamming dentist. I subsequently
demanded a breakdown of these charges, and found them to include
"services" I did not receive nor even agree to. It seems that dentists
are going the way of some car repair shops in that they would rather rip
a dishonest dime of a customer than earn an honest dollar!
How are you doing?
Did you know Bruce Sherman at NYU? He was in the operative department when
I was there--quite a character. I believe he was one of the founders of the
American Dental Plan. I'd like to say that is a recommendation, but...
I agree. Dr's that sign on to these plans do it as a way of getting traffic
through their doors. Once the patient is in...the sales job begins. Is it
their fault? Yes and no. If the dentist signed the contract with this
intention in mind, that's deceptive. If the dentist signed the contract,
figured out how much money he was losing, and then couldn't get out of the
contract, he is simply doing what he needs to in order to avoid bankruptcy.
The insurance plan likely swindled BOTH you and the dentist.
