Allison Bell reports for BenefitsPro on dentists who are increasingly selling their patients services they do not need. No one has good data on this phenomenon. But, reports are everywhere, and it’s not surprising.
Dentists are finding that wherever they turn on the web for guidance, they are encouraged to upsell their patients–of course, the advice is packaged as providing better services for their patients. Dentists are told to suggest more teeth cleanings, more teeth whitening services and other cosmetic treatments. My dentist did just that, not too long ago, offering me a “discount” on a teeth brightening service.
For sure, avoid dentists who are owned by private equity. These dentists are in business first and foremost to make money for their owners. That means, they could be finding “problems” with your teeth, when they should not be.
Question your dentists if they suggest you need additional services. Ask whether they are necessary, if so, are there alternatives, and the cost. Do these services promote oral health? Unless there’s some emergency, do not get these services on the spot, but rather say that you will come back after thinking about them.
People with Medicare generally do not have dental insurance. People in Medicare Advantage plans sometimes have extra benefits that include some dental care. That said, the data suggest that relatively few Medicare Advantagae enrollees use these benefits, so they might be more sizzle and less coverage than people realize. In-network dentists might be hard to schedule an appointment with and out-of-pocket costs could be high.
Here’s more from Just Care:
- Do you know about these free and low-cost benefits?
- Dental fraud: How to protect yourself
- Do you really need that dental work?
- Can’t afford dental care in the US? Consider visiting Los Algodones
- Free and low-cost ways to address hearing loss
