Dentists' biggest complaint is that dental insurance benefits have not been raised in decades. "When I entered private practice in 1970, dental benefits had a maximum payout of $1000. Now twenty-eight years later, it's still $1000," complained a Mississippi dentist. "The premiums for dental coverage have continued to go up, but not the maximum benefit payout. There is something badly wrong with this discrepancy."
Unlike health insurance, "dental insurance" is a benefit plan, not true insurance. Unaware of this, many patients needing significant amounts of dentistry are shocked to discover that their dental plans will pay only a small portion of their expenses.
Many dentists desire more public education about dental coverage. "We need to educate our patients that Dental and Medical Insurances are totally different animals," complained a Georgia dentist. "Patients have become so accustomed to the medical insurance model that they expect low co-pays and no out-of-pocket expenses, which is not a realistic attitude."
Dentists are indignant at the idea of insurance companies deciding which treatments are acceptable. "It's horrible! You can't do dentistry without insurance companies regulating patients acceptance and treatment," moaned an Iowa dentist.
The biggest dental organization in the US is the American Dental Association (ADA). "Insurance companies are getting away with murder!" said a Massachusetts dentist. "I feel the ADA should be negotiating with the insurance as a collective bargaining agent for doctors."
Dentists wonder what the profession can do to do battle with the dental insurance industry. "I think dentists across the country should drop being a preferred dentist for all insurances,"
Some dentists would prefer not to get involved. "I don't feel any need to fight with insurance companies," said an Oregon dentist. "The financial battle is between the patient and the insurance company if the patient chooses to take up that battle. It's not my battle."
To many, it seems that insurance benefits only the insurance companies. "They are a profit-generating entity that does not put the interest of the patient above profits," wrote a Maryland dentist. "Thieves of the trade! They do not care for patients, only their bottom line. I wish we could get rid of them all together," agreed a Florida dentist.
"Insurance used to be a valuable source of new patient referrals for dental practices," said Jim Du Molin, dental patient marketing guru and founder of dental management resource The Wealthy Dentist. "But nowadays, I hear very few positive comments, and an awful lot of complaints."
http://www.thewealthydentist.com/
