Question 10 

 

Why doesn't my dentist just accept payment from my insurance company? I don't have dental insurance and can't afford to go to the dentist. What can I do and why does dentistry cost so much anyway?

Dental plans, offered by many employers, are a means to help you pay for your dental treatment. Most Canadians enjoy dental plans and the insurance companies that provide them are actually benefit carriers. Carriers reimburse patients based on the level of coverage decided by the patient's employer.

When you visit the dentist, it's the dentist's role to make a treatment plan based on your oral health needs. Your needs may be different from what is covered by your dental plan. It is your right to decide whether or not to go ahead with any treatment. You should not decide based on what your plan covers. If you agree to have the treatment, it's your responsibility to pay for it. It is the responsibility of the benefits carrier's to reimburse you for the amount covered by your dental plan.

Many dentists are willing to contact a patient's benefits carrier, on a patient's behalf, to find out if a treatment is covered. The patient has to pay the portion that's not covered and the dentist may offer a payment plan to help.

If you do not have a dental plan and cannot afford to pay all of your bill at once, ask your dentist about a payment plan. If you cannot afford care, even with a payment plan, contact the nearest:

- social services agency to see if you qualify for government-funded dental care;

- dental society where they know about local programs to help people in need;

- dental school where senior dental students provide treatment at a reduced cost.

Dental services may seem expensive. In Canada, we don't have to pay directly when we visit a doctor or hospital, so we may not realize the high cost of providing health services. Overhead costs are high for dentists. They have staff, equipment and other operating costs. The good news is that you can avoid costly dental work by brushing, flossing and visiting your dentist regularly for a check-up. Regular check-ups cost money, but they are less expensive than fixing serious dental problems that stem from neglect.