Would you say something or not bother

[whoisjohngalt]

So, I get a call from my dentist's office to tell me that they have been reviewing all the benefits and it seems that I haven't used the entire amount allowed by my insurance. They tell me that I need fillings and a crown. I tell them that I already have an appt for fillings for next week, but will do crown next year.

They then tell ask me if I know what CareCredit is. Yep, I do, but I have no interest in using it. They sound surprised and keep telling me that I can do the crown this year and charge my insurance and pay for my portion using CareCredit (which is just a cc)

This really bugs me for two reasons. 1 - my crown is not an emergency bc I was told about it 5 months ago and was told I could wait, so the whole idea of doing just to use up all insurance money for the year irks me and 2 - why would a dentist's office be so insistent on their patients signing up for credit cards when the patient is telling them "no"??

Is it me or does this sounds pretty unethical??

I really want to call them and tell them what I think about the whole thing, but my DH thinks I shouldn't even bother.

What say you?

[swamp]

since they will have sharp things in my mouth at some point in the future, I wouldn't say anything.

[InsertCoolName]

The dentist doesn't post on YM, and they are shocked that Christmas is coming. They need cash for their kids' gifts. THINK OF THE KIDS!!!

[whoisjohngalt]

I will probably be looking for a new dentist - I was already pretty skeptical about whether I really need the work or not....

[lynnerself]

I was going to ask if you were happy with the dentist otherwise.
If so I would have let it slide. If it seems to be a pattern then move on.
I left one dentist whose work was really good because I thought the office was always trying to sell me something or do extra work.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Everyone is starting witht he medical credit cards around here. Even our vet has one. Nobody takes payment plans anymore, they want you to use the credit cards. Which make sense because they get paid and the CC company is the one screwed if you don't pay the bill.

There are promotions everywhere and anytime I've had major work done they discuss it with me. Paying them with cash or check over a long period of time is no longer an option for many places around here. You either pay 100% of your costs upfront or you are expected to use the credit card.

I wouldn't look for a new dentist because I can't get away from it. Overall I am happy with the clinic I go to and the services they provide.

[justme]

Now you have me wondering if Drs get a kickback for having people sign up for CareCredit...can't remember if I had to put the Dr in when I applied. I used it as a free loan to pay for my wisdom tooth extraction which was really nice since there were several hundred dollars my insurance would most likely pay once they got all the documentation for but that I had to pay up front so with CareCredit I didn't have to pay up front.

Mine didn't push it on me though. They just had the advertisments there and were like well if you put it on here you get 0% interest for 12 months, but either way you have to pay for your portion upfront as CareCredit was the way they did "payment plans".

[movingforward]

I went to a new dentist when my insurance changed and he kept telling me I needed a crown on a tooth that my old dentist said was fine. This is also the same office that handed me a 0% financing pamphlet before they even looked at my teeth. The next time I went to another dentist who told me the tooth did not need a crown. He was an older gentlemen and he proceeded to tell me how the new dentists are trying to scam people into having unnecessary work done. I actually tend to believe him just based on some of the stories I have heard.

[whoisjohngalt]

I've only been to this dentist once, for cleaning.

The thing is, I didn't ask her if they have a payment plan or any other "money" questions, I simply said to her that I won't be doing crown this year. I thought it was pretty pushy of her to keep talking about cc.

We used CareCredit for my DH's dog a few years ago when he had a $8K bladder surgery, so that's how I knew about it

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Most people don't do serious dental work because they can't afford it or they do it and then don't pay.

It's annoying because that doesn't mean we're doing the same thing, but I figured it out after talking to my vet and having to have a meeting with the finanical officer during my first pre-natal visit.

So I roll with it. I do have the credit card from my dentist, I put my deep clean on it so I could get it done ASAP. Otherwise I say thank you for the information and then throw it in the trash bin.

[swamp]

I know someone who paid for a boob job on Credit Care. I think that was a bad idea. She also got D boobs and she's about 5'0" and 110 pounds. She looks like she's gonna tip over.

[thyme4change]

Dentists are pretty well known (as a whole, but not every single one) for being pushy on money issues. They are always trying to "up sell" you on something - floride, teeth whitening, etc. Credit Care is a great tool for them because they can push you into even more stuff. Also, they might get a kick-back for every application or something. It could be a double-money-maker for them. I treat it the same way as the pushy Macy's clerk who asks me three times if I am sure I don't want to sign up for a Macy's card to get 10% off, when I'm buying 2 pairs of underpants, or a sweater off the clearance rack. I just stay firm and say "no."

[Rocky Mtn Saver]

Hm, I've never had my dentist office discuss either Care Credit or my insurance balance with me. I must have an old-schoold dentist.

[swamp]

Dec 5, 2012 12:12:39 GMT -5 Rocky Mtn Saver said:

Hm, I've never had my dentist office discuss either Care Credit or my insurance balance with me. I must have an old-schoold dentist.

[movingforward]

Dec 5, 2012 11:57:40 GMT -5 swamp said:

I know someone who paid for a boob job on Credit Care. I think that was a bad idea. She also got D boobs and she's about 5'0" and 110 pounds. She looks like she's gonna tip over.

Holy crap!! I don't understand why anyone would do that. Not to give away too much personal info here but I actually had a breast reduction done when I was 26. I weighed 110 pounds and wore a 34 DD. It was extremely uncomfortable and caused back issues. I went through a whole series of tests and the insurance agreed it was in my best interest to have a reduction. Happily went down to a C cup and have never regretted it.

[daisylu]

None of this would bother me in the least. I would simply explain that I do not have a cashflow problem so I do not care for another CC.

As for them pushing for the crown, if I knew months ago that I needed it I would be happy that they called to verify that I knew that I had reached my deductible and could save money by getting it done sooner rather than later.

[swamp]

Dec 5, 2012 12:14:29 GMT -5 movingforward said:

Dec 5, 2012 11:57:40 GMT -5 swamp said:

I know someone who paid for a boob job on Credit Care. I think that was a bad idea. She also got D boobs and she's about 5'0" and 110 pounds. She looks like she's gonna tip over.

Holy crap!! I don't understand why anyone would do that. Not to give away too much personal info here but I actually had a breast reduction done when I was 26. I weighed 110 pounds and wore a 34 DD. It was extremely uncomfortable and caused back issues. I went through a whole series of tests and the insurance agreed it was in my best interest to have a reduction. Happily went down to a C cup and have never regretted it.

Her boyfriend wanted her to.

I'd tell my boyfriend to go fuck himself.

[whoisjohngalt]

None of this would bother me in the least. I would simply explain that I do not have a cashflow problem so I do not care for another CC.

You are much nicer than me. I don't owe them any explanations as to why I am not doing, so don't see the need to explain

As for them pushing for the crown, if I knew months ago that I needed it I would be happy that they called to verify that I knew that I had reached my deductible and could save money by getting it done sooner rather than later.

I would have been happy too, but they were suppose to call me 5 months ago and then 4 months ago and then 3 months ago with all the info about the crown. They never did, until today, while reviewing how much money I still have left.

[thyme4change]

Years ago, my current dentist bought the practice where I was already going. The first set of whatever that needed to be done was going to be about $700. They took me into a nice room, with a desk, and explained the whole care credit, blah, blah. They had all the paperwork out, and were speaking very gently and soothing to me. I said "Can't I use visa? Or I could write a check. Whatever." And I've paid every bill from them, and they have never asked again.

[movingforward]

Dec 5, 2012 12:35:04 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Years ago, my current dentist bought the practice where I was already going. The first set of whatever that needed to be done was going to be about $700. They took me into a nice room, with a desk, and explained the whole care credit, blah, blah. They had all the paperwork out, and were speaking very gently and soothing to me. I said "Can't I use visa? Or I could write a check. Whatever." And I've paid every bill from them, and they have never asked again.

LOL! They probably aren't used to people who actually have money in the bank to write a check.

[thyme4change]

They probably aren't used to people who actually have money in the bank to write a check.

That is what I figured. Seriously, all that hoopla over $700? I mean - the $2500 root canal/crown, I would understand. But needing a whole new credit card for $700?

[Deleted]

My dentist or anyone in his office have never pushed me for anything. The only thing I get done is cleaning every 6 months (never had fillings). The only thing he keeps mentioning is having my wisdom teeth taken out and it wouldn't be him doing it so I know he is not saying it to get more money out of me.
I know someone whose dentist told him he needed 7 fillings asap, he went to another one for 2nd opinion, it turns out he didn't need any of them.

[Abby Normal]

Credit Care is really just a financing option. It means they hold the receivable rather than the doctor. So the doctor can do doctoring, and not collections. It is a decent option for those who don't have cash, and don't want to tie up a balance on their traditional cards.

As to why the dentist is pushing it, if you know you need the work done, and have available insurance, they will always push it. Say you put off the crown until next year. You spend $500 of insurance money for the crown, then later in the year break a tooth. You could run into the possibility of NEEDING work done, that wont' be covered. So if you have the insurance funds, and they know you need the work, they'll always push you at year end.

But whether or not you do the work is up to do. And if you trust your dentist not to do unnecessary work in entirely another matter.

[zibazinski]

I trust my old Florida dentist. His kids are out of college, his school loans are paid off and he just wants to stay busy. I don't trust any new ones because they are in debt up to their eyeballs.

[movingforward]

Dec 5, 2012 12:50:15 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

They probably aren't used to people who actually have money in the bank to write a check.

That is what I figured. Seriously, all that hoopla over $700? I mean - the $2500 root canal/crown, I would understand. But needing a whole new credit card for $700?

The supervisor where I used to work (the crazy one who lived to make people miserable) once told me she financed $600 at the dentist office. We are talking about a lady who made over $130,000 a yr, had a husband who also made six figures and no children. Of course, she also complained to the entire staff about have to pay the $2,500 insurance deductible for surgery while holding a $1500 purse

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Care Credit is the card that the university uses for those people who cannot afford to pay for their dental treatment.

I seriously doubt that the dentist is getting a kick back from this, especially since the rules are so stringent at the university about accepting things like this from outside companies.

What this would do is entice you to do more than what you think you can possibly afford as you don't need to pay for it up front.

As to why the dentist is pushing it, if you know you need the work done, and have available insurance, they will always push it. Say you put off the crown until next year. You spend $500 of insurance money for the crown, then later in the year break a tooth. You could run into the possibility of NEEDING work done, that wont' be covered. So if you have the insurance funds, and they know you need the work, they'll always push you at year end.

What agile elf mentions is very correct. IME, most dental plans have a max limit each year. So if you know you need a crown and you have the money left on this year's policy, then it makes sense to get it done this year. When the new year rolls over and if you have another issue next year, then your other problem could possibly not be covered.

Last December, I was talking to the orthopedic surgeon who took out my first infected joint. He said that things were going crazy because everyone wanted to have surgery before the end of their insurance fiscal year so they would not need to pay another insurance deductible. So this line of thought is not uncommon.....

[whoami]

I was always under the impression that Care Credit had a pretty high interest rate. Ive also been under the impression that they tended to accept people with less than stellar credit. Maybe I'm wrong.

My DHs dentist has called twice this month so far about the crown he needs. It has everything to do with him "using" up his remaining benefits. The thing is, he has less than $50 left in benefits and the crown is somewhere near $600-700 and since crowns are covered at 50%...we would obviously be spending more on the crown than if we just waited till January.

[thyme4change]

Last December, I was talking to the orthopedic surgeon who took out my first infected joint. He said that things were going crazy because everyone wanted to have surgery before the end of their insurance fiscal year so they would not need to pay another insurance deductible.

I remember 15 years ago my father had surgery on Christmas Eve (in the morning) because he had already reached his deductible - so waiting 2 weeks would have cost him thousands. That was the year my Dad ruined every holiday. He announced he had cancer on Easter, had montezuma's revenge on Thanksgiving, and had surgery on Christmas. He is a very healthy guy - but boy did that year suck. We will give him a pass.

[alabamagal]

Well I actually have a Care Credit. I got it a couple of years ago when I had 2 kids needing their wisdom teeth out at the same time. The version that I have is one that you can have the charges made as 6, 12, 18 or 24 month no interest. I just always do the 24 month (there is no difference in the charge amount, so not sure why you would do 6??). You then get a bill every month with a minimun payment. If you just make minimum payment you will probably not pay it off before the promotion period. I just always make sure that I pay it off well before the expiration period (it is very clear on the bill). If you do not pay it all off, then it will retroactively charge you the interest amount at some ungodly interest rate (maybe 29??). The statement is also very clear about how much that interest will be if you do not pay it off.

After I got it and saw that my vet takes it, I used it for some large vet bills this year. Since I don't have gobs of cash sitting around in an emergency fund (YM sin I know!), it is a great way for me to pay for things, and I have yet to pay a dime of interest.

[Wisconsin Beth]

Dec 5, 2012 12:12:39 GMT -5 Rocky Mtn Saver said:

Hm, I've never had my dentist office discuss either Care Credit or my insurance balance with me. I must have an old-schoold dentist.

Yeah. Mine's been my dentist since I was about 6. He's slowly closing the practice - I think he's down to 1/2 days now. I do NOT want to have to find a new dentist.