Dental Insurance Q

cowgirl836

Well-Known Member
Sep 3, 2009
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Have an insurance question the internet is not very helpful answering so I'm seeking CF mind input.

I changed dental insurance companies in June. I have two dentists I'm using right now - one I've been with for 10+ yrs and the other that I'm doing orthodontia work with. I had previously changed dental insurance in January of this year with no issue. Both providers in network, covered at the % I expected. I did my same cursory search on the new insurance doctor finder site in June, both providers showed us as preferred providers in network. Awesome, I moved over to that during my hiring enrollment period and did NOT go on my spouse's insurance which also would have covered both, though at a lower rate on the orthodontia.

A couple months in, I had cavities to deal with as well as a regular dental appt. When the claims came in, problems began to unfold. I could see things being resubmitted and reprocessed over the fall. I checked with my primary dental and she said she was getting it worked out. Cut to the chase, it turns out my primary dental is NOT in network. This was not discovered until my dentist office admin called in to find out what was wrong with the processing and asked about in-network. The insurance said "yes, you've been in network since XXXX year" office admin replied "Dentist was not yet born in that year so that's impossible." After that, insurance realized my dentist was NOT in network, they had mixed with someone else and reprocessed everything as out of network which of course then cost me several hundred dollars! To be clear, insurance originally processed the claim as in network. The problem was the dentist wasn't receiving payment because it wasn't the right contact info. Sure enough when I now use their search tool, that dentist no longer comes up.

I can see claims sitting not processing for my orthodontist and I'm very concerned a similar problem awaits. I've taken a screenshot to show that he DOES currently show as in-network.

My question is do I have any recourse with the insurance seeing as they provided incorrect information that was not realized until my dentist office pointed it out. I.e., if I had called the insurance in June to verify in network, they would have said yes. I'm sure it's easier to get blood out of a stone but didn't know if there is anything I can do other than jump ship at the next open enrollment.
 
I'd start with calling the insurance company and explaining the issue if you haven't already. I would hope they would take care of it since the error was on their end but who knows. If not, I'm not sure if they are liable from a legal standpoint. I know, super helpful.
 
I'd start with calling the insurance company and explaining the issue if you haven't already. I would hope they would take care of it since the error was on their end but who knows. If not, I'm not sure if they are liable from a legal standpoint. I know, super helpful.

Yeah my next step is calling them but wanted to know if there's any solid ground I had to start with.
 
It’s worth a shot. Maybe the dental office can help you.

Dealing with insurance is the worst. My current full time job has been dealing with my car insurance. I’m not sure how someone without flexible work could do it.
 
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It’s worth a shot. Maybe the dental office can help you.

Dealing with insurance is the worst. My current full time job has been dealing with my car insurance. I’m not sure how someone without flexible work could do it.

Yeah I spent days on the phone during pregnancies. Dental office wrote off a bit but not much. Think I've gotten all the help I can get there. They gave me the deets on how the claims came through.

Hope you are still feeling OK, terrifying sounding crash!
 
If I understand your situation correctly, you might argue that you relied on the insurance company's assurance that your dentist was in the network (even if they were wrong). There's a legal concept: detrimental reliance. If you can't get satisfaction by telephone, you can always appeal the claim and put your argument in writing. Outside of that, I'm not sure of what recourse you might have other than to take your business elsewhere, as you mentioned.
 
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Yeah I spent days on the phone during pregnancies. Dental office wrote off a bit but not much. Think I've gotten all the help I can get there. They gave me the deets on how the claims came through.

Hope you are still feeling OK, terrifying sounding crash!

Thanks! I am still feeling good. Mentally I’m pretty scared of getting back on 235 again. Luckily I have a prime motivating reason tomorrow for the game ;). And the second guy that hit me sent his dash cam video. I’m at least smart enough to know I can’t watch that. I do want a friend to watch it because I’m pretty sure it didn’t happen like I initially thought.
 
I saw a lot of weird back and forth when my dentist was retiring and a new dentist was starting, ended up getting sorted out. Little bit different situation though for you.
 
If I understand your situation correctly, you might argue that you relied on the insurance company's assurance that your dentist was in the network (even if they were wrong). There's a legal concept: detrimental reliance. If you can't get satisfaction by telephone, you can always appeal the claim and put your argument in writing. Outside of that, I'm not sure of what recourse you might have other than to take your business elsewhere, as you mentioned.

This is what I'm getting at. They processed it as in network until my office told them something was wrong. Anyone I would have called prior to submitting a claim would have said the office was in network. So if I have to wait until claims fail to find out a provider isn’t in network....seems ****** up. You need to know at the time of enrollment.
 
So the insurance company lists your dentist as in network. You get work done and they go to bill, only to find out they are out of network? And you're left holding the bag?

Sounds like typical insurance. I put them somewhere above politicians and below people who squeeze toothpaste from the top of the tube.
 
So the insurance company lists your dentist as in network. You get work done and they go to bill, only to find out they are out of network? And you're left holding the bag?

Sounds like typical insurance. I put them somewhere above politicians and below people who squeeze toothpaste from the top of the tube.

This is the gist of it, yep.
 
So having been in insurance for many years and currently in healthcare I would advise this-Knowing what I know about insurance and the legal system they generally side with the insured when it comes to the insurance company making mistakes as they see the insurance company in an advisory role. They made the mistake here. I would also take my complaint to the insurance commission. They are pretty responsive and will look into it.
 
I think blame most likely lies with both. But this must not be a large insurance provider in Iowa if they are just finding out this company does not cover them in network. The office should be doing everything they can to help, from your description the sound like they are not and the provider should also be figuring out solutions. Just my 2 cents ...
 
I think blame most likely lies with both. But this must not be a large insurance provider in Iowa if they are just finding out this company does not cover them in network. The office should be doing everything they can to help, from your description the sound like they are not and the provider should also be figuring out solutions. Just my 2 cents ...

Entirely outside of Iowa, both myself and the insurance company.
 
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Finally dealt with this today and at first they tried to blame my dental office until I firmly relayed the facts again and how insurance processed it as in network based on *their* incorrect information. Person on the other end did some digging and found the same erroneous info and very quickly changed to an apologetic tone and sent it off for an adjustment. I don't yet know the amount but hope to get back most of my $500. Gotta keep my perfect streak against fighting insurance!
 
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