Illogical Dental Coverage
So I get this nifty little cd in the mail from my work that gives a nice overview to my benefits. Explains that I have to fill out benefit paperwork before I start so that I can get coverage as soon as I start work. Neat right? I think so.
So I’m going over the dental plan. Now, as far as dental plans go, its pretty normal. Its actually a nicer plan then was on my exhusbands old job health coverage. But when you compare dental coverages to what you get covered in medical. It makes no bloody sense at all.
Riddle me this. Why is it that medical insurance will cover any amount of work up to a million dollars for your body, but will only cover, in this case, 1500 bucks per person a year for your teeth? This includes all costs of basics exams and more restorative care. This makes no sense to me. Now, if your a nazi in taking care of your teeth then this is no big deal, but if your like me and hate flossing, then you’ve got a little more work to do. However, I could be a hypocondriac and I can get all the payment I want. But if its your teeth you only get up to 1500 bucks covered. They do provide some orthodontic coverage, up to a grand your WHOLE LIFE!! Last time I looked, braces cost more then that by a long shot. E will be getting braces.
I mean, I’m glad I”ll have coverage because I will be using it. I need a bridge for my two missing molars. And without coverage it was already going to cost me around 4K to get. So I’ll only have to pay around 2500 bucks for it but good grief people, Dental coverage should be just a tad more then that!!!
July 13th, 2006 at 2:28 pm
hmmmm…if you want, I can ask James (John’s youngest brother) about getting the invisible ‘braces.’ John said that he will be able to do them next year at cost (for us and maybe E) Just need an impression or something of the teeth.
July 13th, 2006 at 4:51 pm
Oh yes, I’ve always considered dentists to be highway robbers of the worst sort. Possibly worse than lawyers. I had “terrific” dental insurance (compared to most) when my younger daughter got a front tooth knocked out, and I still paid a bit over $500 out-of-pocket for the root canal and bonding procedure (to keep the tooth attached to the ones around it). And that tooth will need additional expensive maintanence every 10-12 years for the rest of her life, unless she gets a dental implant (which my sister had done after losing teeth in a car crash, and it’s very expensive & rather painful during healing).
July 13th, 2006 at 9:27 pm
In a bit less than 60 days I get to look into my insurance options. Apparently my employer will basically cover me with little-to-no out of pocket expense on my part, while dependents (of course) will be extra. We’ll have to see who can do the better coverage for how much, methinks.
But dental has always been stupid, and I have no idea why. It must be some sort of dentist cabal, that’s it…