Robert A Foster, Jr
DMD/PC
Family and Cosmetic Dentistry
770-971-5119
1230 Johnson Ferry Place
Suite C-10
Marietta, GA 30068
You may be paying too much
at your Plan Dentist
An HMO or DMO plan requires you to choose a dentist from a list of contracted “providers” who have agreed to accept reduced fees . However, you may not be saving as much money as you were promised. You may even be paying more than if you had no plan at all.; How can this happen?
READ on.:
Here’s what it comes down to: Dentists can’t afford to reduce their fees by 50% or more and stay in business. Despite any noble intent many find they could not stay in business if they actually charged the plan fees. They would literally lose money. So, dentists who sign on with these plans learn to “work the system”. They learn to add on fees that are “not covered” by the HMO plan. They “unbundle” procedures and itemize “extras” that are not really “extras”. By the time the HMO/DMO plan recommended dentist is done adding on the “extra, non-insured” charges, the final fee for the patient is often MORE than it would be at a private dentist. By signing on as a contracted provider, the dentist gets a lot of patients referred to him by the HMO/DMO. It’s a promise to keep the dentist “busy”. Some dentists think they’ll make up the losses with volume. Of course, it does not work out that way. Please let it be known that this is not an indictment of ALL HMO/DMO dentists. This is only an opinion based on experience and observation of the profession for the past 20+ years. A patient should choose and receive dental care with eyes wide open”.
****Taken from Dental Insurance Secrets. By Michael Barr, DDS