NLIC.org

Lucille Said:

What can I do to get dental care without dental insurance?

We Answered:

Unfortunately veterans get stuck behnd the 8 ball on this one, and I am so sorry for that. The fees that the VA allows are so low that most dentists can't work with that fee schedule without losing their shirt. The whole VA Dental program s a joke. We have tried in the past to work with some of the vets in our area and the hospitals put you guys on hold forever. Not a very nice way to say thanks for your service. You should speak with your local government representative to see what can be done in your area. Best of luck and well wishes

Miguel Said:

Is it worth it for me to replace my dental implants?

We Answered:

I agree with tarnished angel. There is still a chance that the graft may not solve the problem though. But is is the most conservative treatment to do and is not the most expensive. If that would be the case, I would consider option #1. It is too bad that the implants were not placed a little better to have given you a better chance to avoid this problem. I wish you good luck with your decision.

Jason Said:

Dental implants/bridge - what is it like?

We Answered:

I had an implant to correct a problem similar to yours, and it wasn't too bad. Of course, like any dental procedure, it wasn't exactly enjoyable. But the result is that I can chew on both sides of my mouth for the first time in a long time. Hopefully you have good dental insurance, because it cost me about $3K.

Cody Said:

In need of dental Implants...?

We Answered:

Check to see if there is a dental school in your area. They need practice and are quite reasonable

Gilbert Said:

Insurance will not cover charges from dental accident/bill or only parts of it.. what can I do?

We Answered:

Per law, if you have not had a lapse of greater than three months then you insurance company cannot have a pre-existing clause. Wait until you get the new insurance and then have your provider request the services and state the medical necessity.

As far as the previous services, if you spoke to someone at the company and she told you that services would be covered then your company is liable for those services, assuming you didn't go outside of your policy's terms and limitations. If they're out of network, then you will be responsible for the out of network rates, unless the company representative told you that your providers were in network. If she did sincerely misquote you then it should be in the company records and it's especialy helpful if you have the representative's name and the date that you called. They typically record those calls, so the actual call should be available. You also have to option to appeal any services that they deny, especially if they are deemed medically necessary. The only time you can't really appeal is if the services aren't a covered benefit

You should call and ask them to explain your appeal rights to you. I would also recommend that you speak with your HR or the account executive (the person that your company speaks with in order to set up the insurance policy). Often, they can bypass many of the rules that the representatives tell you over the phone. In fact, if either the HR or account executive tell them to cover it, then they can override any of the clauses in your benefits.

If all else fails, talk to the provider's billing representatives and check to see if they would be willing to work with you on the charges. Often, providers inflate their prices because insurance companies pay so low. So they may be willing to negotiate a lower cash rate for you.