One helluva difficult day in my little universe…
What brought this on was visiting my dentist. I’ve been in this endless loop where I go in to be fitted for a new crown, and she discovers another tooth that needs a crown… in the last year, I’ve spent over $10K for crowns, and today I was just hit with another $3K worth of projected work. At this rate, it’ll be a long time before I ever get a new Mac.
But this latest episode drove me to online searches for dental insurance. I also called a few local brokers, and what I found out is jaw-dropping (no pun intended): namely, you can’t GET private dental insurance that’s worth anything. It’s simply impossible, at least if you’re of a certain age. My own dentist recommends that individuals not even try to find insurance, because it’s not worth it. I believe her: checking around, I found that it would cost $80/month and that the maximum annual benefit is only around a thousand bucks, not even the cost of a single crown.
My wife just qualified for Medicare, but that doesn’t pay for dental. I was surprised to learn that, because this is just the age when one really needs dental care. Well, guess what? You can’t have any, not unless you pay out of pocket for everything.
And if you’re over 65, no help for hearing aids, glasses, OR dental work through Medicare. (HEY GUYS, THAT’S JUST WHEN WE NEED IT!) And by the way, Medicare isn’t “free,” either: you get your Social Security whacked to pay for it. Feeling smug and secure with your gold-plated group plan just now? Well, it all goes away at just the wrong time of your life. And remember, these are the “good old days.”
I’m still making a little money, thank God, but all you chilluns better watch the hell out and get involved. Hell, emigrate if you have to. It’s a big planet.
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
becoming an expat has been an increasingly enticing possibility for me when considering far out ideas of where my life could be in years hence.
Hi John! All dental insurance policies are structred like the ones you mentioned. Dental insurance is good for young families who don’t know how to save money for a specific goal. For people our age it is typically worthless. We found a good policy with Delta Dental that is more generous than most. The best thing about it is no waiting period and a low yearly copay.
John – something to check on – although it may be just for those in a “nursing home” etc….(as is my Mother) is a policy called Senior Dent. For $60 a month, she gets her dental care covered, PLUS her eyeglasses. Again, have no clue if it is just for those on Medicare and in a nursing home – which again – she is both….but just FYI.
Good Luck….Without seeming to sick – just pull all the bastards and get some dentures…might be cheaper….and less of a hassle in the long run….(Easy for others to suggest I know – BUT….) Again – good luck with it, and I know it’s frustrating as Hell……..It saved my Mom in that she was losing a pair of glasses per week, then when she got Senior Dent – the staff seemed much more cautious about where her glasses were!!! hmmmmmmmm??? Whatever………
Beth, I don’t think Delta does private policies. I’ll call today. My initial research yesterday showed that there were NO options, however.