Going Back Into Debt

First let me say Blue Cross/Blue Shield sucks!!! Wal-Mart uses these guys for our dental, vision, and medical and as far as dental goes they blow. I loose my dental benefits after next week due to me going to school during the week (part-time doesn't get dental) so I decided to go to the dentist yesterday to get done what I could. It has been over 6 years and I have many cavities one of which is so severe, the dentist told me it was the number one priority (I'm going to have to get a crown put on it today). I find out that with Blue Cross/Blue Shield, there is a 12 month waiting period for major dental work. What the hell did I put money into dental for, the only thing it will cover is check-ups and cleaning once a year. I've been full-time for over a year but because you can only enroll during a certain period of the year I've only been on dental since last October which means I'm going to have to pay out of pocket. With insurance I'd only pay about $350, but this is going to cost me $1,080. One thing it does do is it makes my deep cleaning (I'm in early stages of gum disease) cost me around $200 which I guess is somewhat good but I still have several other cavities which will have to be done w/out insurance (but even if I did have it longer there is still that 12 month waiting period). All this dental work will dry up my savings quickly (I have about $5,000 on hand).

This all wouldn't put me in debt itself but it looks like my educational benefits might not cover my entire school ($22,000). I have 8 months left on my current G.I. Bill (Chapter 30) but I'm also eligible for the post 911 bill (Chapter 33). I was told by one lady from the financial office that I could use the last 8 months of Chapter 30 and then have 12 months under Chapter 33 last week. She wasn't in when I went Wed. but another woman was. She told me to forget about Chapter 30 and apply for Chapter 33. I find out that if you apply for Chapter 33 before Chapter 30 runs out you are only entitled for the amount of time you have under Chapter 30 meaning I'd only have 8 months of benefits (the school is 13 months long). I'm going to try to clear it up with them but worst case scenario I'd have to pay for half of my school which would put me over $10,000 in debt.

Doesn't all this sound like fun?! But I guess that is the sacrifice one must make to get into a career field and prevent their teeth from rotting. The only thing I can hope for is that the G.I. Bill thing gets straightened out and the rest of my dental work is not going to cost me too much. Also if I do real well in school, my chances of getting a better paying job when I get out will increase. So those of you who are fellow believers, please keep my situation in your prayers and to the rest of you, wish me luck.

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please keep my situation in your prayers

Will do.

I've had horrible problems with gum disease over the years and unfortunately wasn't able to afford to fix most of the problems. So at this stage in the game my only really affordable choice is dentures...get that stuff fixed BEFORE you have no other options.

detuned wrote:

I've had horrible problems with gum disease over the years and unfortunately wasn't able to afford to fix most of the problems. So at this stage in the game my only really affordable choice is dentures...get that stuff fixed BEFORE you have no other options.

Oh, I'm going to do whatever it takes to get my teeth healthy. My dad is going to be taking two weeks of vacation later this month and is going to get all his teeth pulled (he already informed me that he will not be in a good mood for a while but that was pretty much a given). He stressed me to not make the same mistake he made, which made me decide to finally go to the dentist (you'd think the 8 teeth with holes in them would have been enough-but I tend to be pretty stubborn-according to my dad, it's a common Newcomb trait ). At least I have some money saved up otherwise this would be devestating to me financially.

Most dental plans suck.

Mine will only pay out $1000 per year and only 50% of crowns up to that $1000. The year I needed two root canals followed by crowns cost me over $1000 out of pocket.

I feel your pain. I don't have any dental and am afraid to go in to a dentist now.

tohostudios wrote:

Most dental plans suck.

Mine will only pay out $1000 per year and only 50% of crowns up to that $1000. The year I needed two root canals followed by crowns cost me over $1000 out of pocket.

That was always the problem I'd have. I would get the root canal done because my insurance would cover 80%, but then I could never afford to get the crowns. So about 2 years later the tooth would break off above the gumline.

I have two teeth where the only thing left is the metal post sticking up out of my gum where the tooth used to be.

No fun.

I'm a firm believer that dentists do more harm than good. As backwoods as it sounds, I have been to the dentist all of ONE time in my life (to get my wisdom teeth pulled). I have never had tooth discomfort or pain (except for the wisdom teeth), and who knows how much money I have saved. From what I have heard others tell me, it seems like one procedure is always followed by another......and another......it's a racket.

Until recently I hadn't been to a dentist in over a decade. I was as shocked as anyone when the guy told me my teeth were "in great shape" after so long without a checkup. I guess all the milk I drank as a kid really did pay off.

There is definitely some "racket" involved...but my problem was hereditary gum disease...so all my teeth rotted out at the gumline. The dentist told me that no matter how well I had taken care of my teeth it still would have happened.

I've had about 17 root canals and many other teeth have been pulled.

SpectreFate wrote:

it's a racket.

It is, but not quite how you think. Dentists are actually in cahoots with the Federal Government. Those "fillings" they insert into your teeth are actually tiny radio transmitters that The Man uses to keep tabs on everything you do.

Fat Freddy wrote:

SpectreFate wrote:

it's a racket.

It is, but not quite how you think. Dentists are actually in cahoots with the Federal Government. Those "fillings" they insert into your teeth are actually tiny radio transmitters that The Man uses to keep tabs on everything you do.

Dang...wonder if there laced with C4? "Troy will not conform to the new world order ideals" **pushes button**

T-Roy wrote:

Dang...wonder if there laced with C4?

Of course they are. You know those urban legends about people spontaneously combusting? They're not legends, and they're not spontaneous.

Wow! This took a sudden, conspiratorial turn! I am a regular dentist visitor, but the thing I question is the number of kids that are put into braces. Yes, some definitely need it, but I wonder if ALL of them do. My oldest son needed braces, no question. Our youngest has pretty nice looking teeth, but he "needs" braces too. Hmmm!

Dallas, my thoughts and prayers are with you, but maybe you shouldn't listen to Alice Cooper's "Unfinished Sweet" for a while...

I've never gone to the dentist and I'm not gonna start now. They're fine.

Wish the best to you Dallas.

Good news! I only need 5 more fillings and my insurance will cover it (they have beens sheduled for next Thursday-the last week I have insurance). That and the cleaning and my savings will not be cleaned out much at all. Also the G.I. Bill will cover most of my school (I MAY have about $5k left but that is better than $10K+). I'm sure not going to enjoy what's comming up next week but I don't want to be in the situation my dad is in. Hopefully, I will take better care of them this time around and not go several days to a week w/o brushing.

The crown was quite an adventure. My gums should be sore for a few days because I had to get 2 novicane injetions. The first one only lasted half way through the drilling before it started hurting. I tried to bear it but the dentist wasn't about to let me suffer so I got the 2nd one. It took a lot of drilling and there is a small chance they might have hit the nerve which could cause problems later down the line. The decay was so far into that tooth that it was a good thing I got it done instead of waiting (I noticed a hole in that tooth several years ago). I currently have a temporary silver crown until the real one is ready in a few weeks. My gums at the injection site are still numb but once it wears off I'm sure I will be in some pain (my teeth are already hurting-the mold used to imprint my bite irritated my sensitive teeth).

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It's a racket.

Kind of right. Going to the dentist is not really necessary most of the time if you take good care of your teeth. I on the other hand have neglected them for too long now.

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but the thing I question is the number of kids that are put into braces. Yes, some definitely need it, but I wonder if ALL of them do.

I know I needed them. I had teeth growing on top of other teeth and all sorts of problems. I hated them for the first week becaue the pain was almost unbearable. After that when I was in wrestling I had to wear a mouth piece to stop the braces from cutting up my lip but I couldn't breathe with the damn thing. I eventually just took the gamble and wrestled w/out it (I got cut up quite a few times but at least I could breathe). I also had to get jaw surgery to correct my nasty underbite (that was another adventure all together).

So next ThursdayI have quite a hectic day ahead of me. When I get off of work @7a.m., I have the fillings at 7:10 (dentist is right down the road from where I work) which will take about 2 hours. I then need to get about 3 hours of sleep before I need to leave for class orientation at 2p.m. which will last about an hour or so. Which leaves me (hopefully) enough time to drop off at the house, shower, and leave for the Galactic Cowboys concert. After the concert I need to get home and sleep some more because I'll be leaving at 5:30 a.m Friday morning to go to school.

MetalGuy71 wrote:

I've never gone to the dentist and I'm not gonna start now. They're fine.

LMFAO!!! whats up with that white stuff in the middle of the couple bottom teeth? You might want to get that checked out. Everything else looks in check.

Wow, sorry to hear that, DB (and detuned). Medical problems are tough to deal with financially and emotionally.

It does suck... Ive been with the post office I think it has to be close or even 6 years now and I still dont have benefits because im not full time. Its complete crap! A couple years ago I had to get some wisdom teeth pulled so when I went to the dentist I was able to get insurence through them and it was actually not too bad of a deal. I got 2 wisdom teeth pulled but I still need one more done. I should have gotten all 3 done at once because I knew I wouldnt make the next appointment anytime soon. So far I havent had any pain like I did with the ones that got pulled. That was probably the worst feeling I ever had in my life. Getting them out actually felt pretty good and It didnt hurt as everyone led me to believe. I actually tought it was funny. Wasnt that funny the next day though lol.

Doesn't your military service cover medical anyway?

[Edited for my temporary tastelessness]

Fat Freddy wrote:

SpectreFate wrote:

it's a racket.

It is, but not quite how you think. Dentists are actually in cahoots with the Federal Government. Those "fillings" they insert into your teeth are actually tiny radio transmitters that The Man uses to keep tabs on everything you do.

I heard about that once but i don't know if it's true because they would want to keep tabs on everyone and some people take care of their teeth and have no work done or they live i a rural place and never go to the dentist at all. Still it's a scay thought... I also heard that those switch to digital boxes have cameras in them to spy on us.

Troublezone wrote:

Fat Freddy wrote:

SpectreFate wrote:

it's a racket.

It is, but not quite how you think. Dentists are actually in cahoots with the Federal Government. Those "fillings" they insert into your teeth are actually tiny radio transmitters that The Man uses to keep tabs on everything you do.

I heard about that once but i don't know if it's true because they would want to keep tabs on everyone and some people take care of their teeth and have no work done or they live i a rural place and never go to the dentist at all. Still it's a scay thought... I also heard that those switch to digital boxes have cameras in them to spy on us.

That's why you should always wear a tin foil hat when you watch TV. It keeps the death rays from penetrating into your skull. Didn't they teach you kids anything in school? Sheesh.

Chairman_Smith wrote:

Doesn't your military service cover medical anyway?

[Edited for my temporary tastelessness]

Only if I was still in it, in the active reserves, or retired.

Glad to hear your insurance is covering things! Love the Sherman's Lagoon cartoons, BTW!