Question for those working in the dental field?!
Question: Last year, I began seeing a new dentist who participated with my BCBS Dental as well as my Ameriplan discount. My dental benefits were maxed out so I used Ameriplan and told them I'd have full dental coverage the following year. It's time for my annual cleaning and the lady at the dentist's office told me that "Ameriplan must be billed as primary because it is in my name", whereas my BCBS dental is through my husband's employer. I reminded her that Ameriplan is NOT insurance, it's just a discount plan and that I would indeed be utitlizing my insurance coverage instead. She continued to argue with me until I said, "FINE. Get rid of the Ameriplan from my records. Pretend I don't have it because I am NOT paying for something out of pocket when I have insurance to cover it". Is she just stupid or am I missing something here?
Answers: Last year, I began seeing a new dentist who participated with my BCBS Dental as well as my Ameriplan discount. My dental benefits were maxed out so I used Ameriplan and told them I'd have full dental coverage the following year. It's time for my annual cleaning and the lady at the dentist's office told me that "Ameriplan must be billed as primary because it is in my name", whereas my BCBS dental is through my husband's employer. I reminded her that Ameriplan is NOT insurance, it's just a discount plan and that I would indeed be utitlizing my insurance coverage instead. She continued to argue with me until I said, "FINE. Get rid of the Ameriplan from my records. Pretend I don't have it because I am NOT paying for something out of pocket when I have insurance to cover it". Is she just stupid or am I missing something here?
The girl at the office would be correct if Ameriplan was an insurance. But because it is a discount plan you are correct and should speak with the office manager or person in charge. The BCBS should be used until maxed out as you stated happened before.
I looked up the Ameriplan website and it states that it is not an insurance company. It sounds like a discount program that helps you choose a dentist on the plan(and I assume that This Dentist is still on the plan), the Dentist agrees to the discounted fees, and charges accordingly. Am I right??
If I am, call back and ask for theOffice Manager. Make sure that they are still part of the Ameriplan program. Explain what happened, and the Office Manager should help you out. If not, ask for the Dentist to call you back and talk to them personally. (Please, tell the Office Manager first, most Dentists let them handle the insurance coverage.)
My guess is that they have a new employee who doesn't understand the plan.
By the way, check and see what you are paying for that program. You may be shelling our more than if you just paid the Dentist after your husband's insurance. Just a thought.
If they are still part of the program the Office Manager should help. Good Luck!
Well I am not a big fan of discount plans but to answer your question, the girl at the office is wrong...sorta. Most dental offices that accept discount plans have you choose either or. This is why but does not limit it to only this....
To be a provider or on the BCBS list the dentist signs an agreement to only charge BCBS fees to those who are enrolled. EX: cleaning without ins cost $65.00 but if you are signed up with BCBS and BCBS says they think cleanings should be $45.00 the dentist writes off the $20.00 because they are bound to the agreement. Ok, but you also have to be going to a dentist on your provider list.VERY IMPORTANT!!! OR YOU WILL OWE THE $20.00
(that is what the office means when they say in or out of network)
The discount plan the dentist is allowed to charge their fees and only take off the dollar amt that the discount plan allows.
So long story short...you are better dropping your discount plan anyway and saving some money and just using your ins. It is possible but very rare that a dentist will accept both and the insurance sec. has to really know what she is doing other wise you WILL END UP PAYING MORE OUT OF POCKET THAN YOU SHOULD.