I hate insurance.

[Carolina]

Today I hate dental insurance.

My little guy (5 yrs old) needs a dental appliance to correct the fact that the roof of his mouth is too narrow. Poor guy! This is considered orthodontics, and our dentist's office contacted our insurance company to check on coverage. They told us it was covered - yay!

Well, today, after I brought him for his second appointment, we find out it is not covered, because there is a waiting period the insurance company did not inform my dentist's office about until after the treatment was started. The waiting period is three years!!! So, we own this $900 bill in its entirety This is dental coverage we pay $54/month for, by the way. Don't even get me started on our medical coverage.

OK -- thanks for listening!

[Dan Pierce]

I know what you mean with our medical bills this year.
A few years back we needed a $600.00 roof vent for the house. I called our insurance broker and he said we could be dropped by our home insurer if we make a claim. That's after never, ever making a claim and ALWAYS paying out premiums on time.
dP

[Carolina]

Originally Posted by Dan Pierce

I know what you mean with our medical bills this year.
A few years back we needed a $600.00 roof vent for the house. I called our insurance broker and he said we could be dropped by our home insurer if we make a claim. That's after never, ever making a claim and ALWAYS paying out premiums on time.
dP

Dan, aren't you self employed? Because in that case, I know things can get even more expensive! But for home/auto, I can recommend our company - Amica. They've been really nice to deal with over the years.

[East Bay Rider]

My son is 11 now and already finished with "phase 1" ($3,800) of orthadontia. He had the palette expander then braces on his upper teeth. He still has not lost all of his baby teeth and will need "phase 2" braces in a couple of years. I think all that is a bit nuts but I will admit the palette expander did a good job and was not overly unpleasant for him.

[mailman]

I guess I won't say anything about my health insurance going up $60 a month next year then

[Carolina]

Originally Posted by mailman

I guess I won't say anything about my health insurance going up $60 a month next year then

Most of the people my husband works with pay close to $800/month for medical and dental! It's nuts!!!

[Carolina]

Originally Posted by East Bay Rider

My son is 11 now and already finished with "phase 1" ($3,800) of orthadontia. He had the palette expander then braces on his upper teeth. He still has not lost all of his baby teeth and will need "phase 2" braces in a couple of years. I think all that is a bit nuts but I will admit the palette expander did a good job and was not overly unpleasant for him.

All that and he's only 11?!? I believe the "palette expander" is the appliance my son is getting - I hope it is not the start of many years of braces.... What's amazing to me is the fact that it will (supposedly) be off in 3 months or so.

[East Bay Rider]

Yes I believe my wife was taken in by the "Don't you want your child to have the best smile he can have?" BS. "Lots of kids have them braces this early."
Whatever.
He didn't have buck teeth or anything. I thought he looked fine but I heard he had a scissor-bite.
The palette expander was amazing. It produced a gap between his front teeth as it spread out his cheekbones, then the braces brought the teeth back where they belonged.
He's a handsome little guy so I don't mind.

[Lisa]

Carolina - my 7 year old is looking at serious orthodontic treatment, too - thumbsucking and a smallish-jaw have given her a huge overbite. Really crowded permanent teeth, too. One grandfather is a retired orthodontist, and the other a retired general dentist, so we feel lucky we can bounce questions off them regarding her treatment. Without their wisdom I'd feel very insecure about what to do, and what was really necessary.

Oh, yes - and I HATE INSURANCE, TOO.

[Steve V.]

really bad so we took him to the E.R. Keep in mind this was in the middle of the night and all in a 24 hour period. They weighed him and he weighed in at 36lbs. He lost 4 pounds or 10% of his body weight in a 24 hour period. The fever/illness had dehydrated him that bad, that quick. They fixed him up and gave him some medicine and we were on our way after only 7 hours in the E.R. The insurance company told us that it was not an emergency and they refused the claim. That really tested my ability to not go medieval on someone.



Steve

[jpourteau]

Maybe its just me but how did everyone survive 20 years ago without braces? It seem like today braces fit in alongside with taxes and death in things you can't avoid.

[Dan Pierce]

Dan, aren't you self employed? Because in that case, I know things can get even more expensive!

Caroline,
Yes, both my wife & I are self employed. You should see the $$ we pay for "$hit hits the fan" coverage. Just so happens that this year "$hit hit the fan". HOWEVER, we're both alive and kickin' so that's what's really important.
Thanks for the info, might have to check that out.
dP

[Lisa]

Originally Posted by jpourteau

Maybe its just me but how did everyone survive 20 years ago without braces? It seem like today braces fit in alongside with taxes and death in things you can't avoid.

Maybe it's just me, too, but when I was a kid of braces-wearing age there WERE a lot of metal-mouths in school. This would have been more than 30 years ago. So many kids were sporting bands and headgear that I wanted them, too. Alas, I was only given an upper "retainer" appliance that you could take out and display attractively beside your lunch tray in the cafeteria.

[Carolina]

Originally Posted by Steve V.

really bad so we took him to the E.R. Keep in mind this was in the middle of the night and all in a 24 hour period. They weighed him and he weighed in at 36lbs. He lost 4 pounds or 10% of his body weight in a 24 hour period. The fever/illness had dehydrated him that bad, that quick. They fixed him up and gave him some medicine and we were on our way after only 7 hours in the E.R. The insurance company told us that it was not an emergency and they refused the claim. That really tested my ability to not go medieval on someone.



Steve

Grrr - that would get my "mama bear" reflex going!!

[Carolina]

Originally Posted by Lisa

Maybe it's just me, too, but when I was a kid of braces-wearing age there WERE a lot of metal-mouths in school. This would have been more than 30 years ago. So many kids were sporting bands and headgear that I wanted them, too. Alas, I was only given an upper "retainer" appliance that you could take out and display attractively beside your lunch tray in the cafeteria.

I remember a lot of kids with braces in jr. high/high school as well. BUT, our dentist informed me this morning that the insurance company average estimated lifetime max on this type of work is STILL $1000 (as is on our policy) - which is the estimate from 25 years ago. The industry hasn't updated as of yet. I can onlhy imagine what braces for our children will cost!!

And yes, some major thumbsucking going on here as well!

[Carolina]

Originally Posted by Dan Pierce

Dan, aren't you self employed? Because in that case, I know things can get even more expensive!

Caroline,
Yes, both my wife & I are self employed. You should see the $$ we pay for "$hit hits the fan" coverage. Just so happens that this year "$hit hit the fan". HOWEVER, we're both alive and kickin' so that's what's really important.
Thanks for the info, might have to check that out.
dP

As much as I hate insurance, it's great to have it there when you need it!

FYI, we had to file a claim on our homeowners insurance last year - the water line to our refrigerator leaked and soaked through the subfloor in our kitchen. We had this repaired (including replacing our tile floor) and our rates remained the same. I was pleasantly surprised.

[Lloyd]

Just to make you feel better, here's my BAD DAY story. After waiting in anticipation for my cheque to clear for about a week, I went to pay the final sum on my 1998 Ford Fairmont 4.0, on the way from the dealer, not having done 10 km we stopped at a traffic light, and was rear-ended by a 4 x 4 with a huge winch on the front of his bumper, really put a damper on my joyous day, all i can say is THANK GOD FOR INSURANCE.

[Lisa]

[

Yikes. $1,000 maximum? That'll buy you about 1 1/2 bands. I'd better check our coverage - but I bet it's not much better. Last month they refused to cover my daughter's visit to a pedodontist after our general dentist said she needed a filling. General dentist doesn't use nitrous oxide or any kind of sedation, and we weren't too keen on her taking an injection and drilling in her mouth without it. (Previous experiences at the dentist have been quite traumatic for her, and she was very worried about getting the filling.)

Any sedation for children including nitrous isn't covered by our dental insurance. The visit to the pedo wasn't covered because that exceeded her annual allowable visits. Grr....

So, we were 100% out of pocket for the visit to the children's dentist and the oral sedation, (the sedation alone cost about $300 dollars). Guess the pediatric dental insurance "experts" deem a child's comfort is not medically necessary.

And try to explain all of this to a stubborn kid who doesn't like to brush her teeth!

[Carolina]

Originally Posted by Lisa

[

Yikes. $1,000 maximum? That'll buy you about 1 1/2 bands. I'd better check our coverage - but I bet it's not much better. Last month they refused to cover my daughter's visit to a pedodontist after our general dentist said she needed a filling. General dentist doesn't use nitrous oxide or any kind of sedation, and we weren't too keen on her taking an injection and drilling in her mouth without it. (Previous experiences at the dentist have been quite traumatic for her, and she was very worried about getting the filling.)

Any sedation for children including nitrous isn't covered by our dental insurance. The visit to the pedo wasn't covered because that exceeded her annual allowable visits. Grr....

So, we were 100% out of pocket for the visit to the children's dentist and the oral sedation, (the sedation alone cost about $300 dollars). Guess the pediatric dental insurance "experts" deem a child's comfort is not medically necessary.

And try to explain all of this to a stubborn kid who doesn't like to brush her teeth!

Lisa, I believe we are parenting the same daughter in different states! That is why we visit a pediatric dentist - it helps. And he told me that $1000 is the industry standard unless one hs exceptional coverage (cough, choke)!

[Carolina]

Originally Posted by Lloyd

Just to make you feel better, here's my BAD DAY story. After waiting in anticipation for my cheque to clear for about a week, I went to pay the final sum on my 1998 Ford Fairmont 4.0, on the way from the dealer, not having done 10 km we stopped at a traffic light, and was rear-ended by a 4 x 4 with a huge winch on the front of his bumper, really put a damper on my joyous day, all i can say is THANK GOD FOR INSURANCE.

Oh, now THAT is a bad day is I ever did see one!!

[East Bay Rider]

My son's $3,800 "phase 1" was entirely out of pocket as our dental insurance covers cleanings only.
My wife's new job offers elective Delta Dental insurance that she has now signed up for.
Phase 2? Bring it on!

[ohsixx]

Don' t feel too bad. My wife's teeth look perfect. Nevertheless, the dentist convinced her she needs a $1700 procedure this friday.

Guess who gets to pay?

[Ed Rooney]

Everyone thinks Hillary and the government will screw up our healthcare system. I think the private insurance companies have done it already.

[Carolina]

Originally Posted by Ed Rooney

Everyone thinks Hillary and the government will screw up our healthcare system. I think the private insurance companies have done it already.

I think I agree!

[mailman]

Originally Posted by Carolina

Most of the people my husband works with pay close to $800/month for medical and dental! It's nuts!!!

Ouch