Will most dentists let me do a payment plan? I know there are none in my area that do a sliding fee scale. I am just on the borderline for medicaid but I still cannot get it so I have no insurance and no way to pay for healthcare. But I really need to be seen. Money is so tight that I have a really hard time just paying the bills that I have but since I am BARELY over the poverty guidelines, I cannot get any kind of help at all from the goverment.
2006-12-02 12:24:22 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Dental
Some dentists will put you on a payment plan. Start calling around and ask. Also, if there is a dental school anywhere in your area, you can get the work done cheaply, but they work slowly.
2006-12-02 12:27:19 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
They most likely will be able to put you on a payment plan---but that depends on the dentist, of course. Your best bet is to give them a call and be honest with them about your situation. Also, some local health departments have dentists on their staff (the ones in New Haven usually do, but of course I'm not sure if that applies where you are.) They generally operate on a sliding scale. You may have good success calling your health department for information as well.
Good luck!
2006-12-02 12:35:37 · answer #2 · answered by Danagasta 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Dental care in this country is shameful at best. My friend died from an infected tooth because he had no money. Yes a dentist can and will refuse to see those that have no money. Medicaid in Tennessee doesn't cover dental care for adults over the age of 18. I pay $20 a month for dental insurance and I had to wait 2 years before coverage began. Maybe if enough people die from infection, there will be an improvement in dental care....)(
2006-12-02 12:31:09 · answer #3 · answered by MissKathleen 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I live in a very small town so my dentist lets me make payments but I had to go to a bigger city to get my venners and I also have no insurance so I signed up with Care Credit. You can sign up over the internet and approval is immediate. Pretty much you get a loan from Care Credit (they give you a credit card) and you use it at your dentist and then you pay care credit in payments. If you can pay it off within 18 months, there is no interst charge. Hope this helps, it did me!!:)
2006-12-03 05:22:36 · answer #4 · answered by Katie W 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To answer your first question, there is no law that says a dentist has to see any patient. At least not in my state. Can you be required to work without pay? I doubt it.
To answer your second question, I think many dentists would be reasonable about working based on a payment plan. Many work with Care Credit or CitiBank to help you get financine. If you are declined by them, it would be unreasonable to expect very liberal terms from a dentist, though. I personally work for "payment plans" knowing full well that the patient can't really afford my care. As long as I feel that they are making an attempt, I will do my best to help them. If they think $5 a month is good enough, though, we are not going to make very much progress with their dental problems.
Contact your local or state dental association and and see if there are any dentists who provide free or reduced cost care for low-income, disabled or senior patients.
Call your local health department and ask about health centers that provide dental care for free or on a sliding scale.
Your local United Way may also be aware of such a clinic. In some areas, you can reach them now by dialing 2-1-1 for "non-emergency information."
Go to a dental school, if there is one near you, for reduced costs.
If you are a senior citizen, call your local Area Agency on Aging or Office on Aging. If you can not find a listing in your local phone book on the "County Government" pages (usually marked with blue borders), call toll-free 1-800-677-1116 to find how to contact the Area Agency on Aging serving you.
Check http://www.toothwoman.net to see if low-cost or free dental services are available near you.
Check http://bphc.hrsa.gov and choose "Find a Health Center" to see if there is a low-cost clinic near you.
Check http://www.nfdh.org/DDS.html to see if your state has a "Donated Dental Services" program. D.D.S. is designed to locate dentists who will give free care to patients who are financially compromised due to medical problems. This is a process that will take a couple of months to get your information and then arrange for someone to see you. Not all states have D.D.S. programs.
If worse comes to worse, check out http://www.prosper.com and see if you can find a funding source.
2006-12-02 15:45:52 · answer #5 · answered by Picture Taker 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try going to your local health department. Because most dentist you must pay before you go to the back. There maybe a few that will do a payment plan. The health department goes buy your income.
2006-12-02 12:28:52 · answer #6 · answered by red334chip 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They will still see you but you must pay their regular fees. If you tell them your financial situation (and be honest) they may give you a discount.
Second, don't eat sugary processed foods at all and you won't have future cavities. White sugar of any kind will create an acid affect in your teeth and destroys them.
Don't listen to McDonalds, Kelloggs and all those other creeps.
Use only Rapadura sugar if you have too.
2006-12-02 12:32:15 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
A lot of dental offices will accept payments and especially if you make a down payment up front. You might want to go through the phone book and call around. Why did you put a nurse's cap on your avatar?
2006-12-02 12:28:53 · answer #8 · answered by TweetyBird 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dentists are human just as you are. some are kind and some are not.
I am sure you can find a dentist that will be willing to work with you. You may even get a discount.
2006-12-02 12:35:59 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
welcome to the club i have to spend a lot on my teeth but its worth it they say. most dentist will let you make payments if they have had a practice very long. If they are just starting up they have got a lot of extra expenses and can not afford to give you credit.. just pick one that has been there for a while and make an appointment with them and tell your story to them.
2006-12-02 12:29:46 · answer #10 · answered by roy40372 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋