Dental Industry needs an overhaul

[89th]

Insurance, in-network, out of network, procedure codes, billed amounts, covered amounts, not-allowed amounts, contracted amounts, insurance paid, patient responsibility, etc. So many moving parts when it comes to dental costs.

You would think the industry is ripe for a provider to come in and change the game with some sort of basic structure such as "Preventative services: $100 per visit or free with insurance; and Restorative services: $200 per visit or $50 with insurance; Etc."

Something like that. Would gobble up patients left and right, I would imagine.

[jon-nyc]

I remember talking to a guy in the industry about dental insurance's inadequacies. He said the problem is "everybody is walking around with 50k of unperformed dental work in their mouth".

So insurance becomes more of a discounted buying club.

[89th]

That makes sense, and a good view. That's why preventative stuff is always "free" (covered) but any work...fillings, crowns, implants, etc... are expensive AND insurance usually only gives you a few thousand in coverage before they stop paying, too.

[kluurs]

Years ago, when I was the CEO of a small group. Our insurance broker explained the dental insurance is a joke. "You're paying $3,000 for $1,500 of benefits to your employees. Why don't you explain to your employees what's going on and just give them the $3,000?"

I explained that while that made sense, my employees would within a few months complain that our cheap company didn't give them dental insurance. It wouldn't matter if we doubled their salaries - if they didn't have "dental', they'd say we weren't giving good benefits.

Madness rules.

[Copper]

I have been buying individual dental insurance for about 15 years. I have used Cigna and now it is Delta.

I think it has been a good deal. I never miss the 6-month preventative appointments. And I think I probably do a little better than break even over the course of a year.

I suspect the insurance companies make money on people who don't use benefits. I don't think they make a lot from me.