$2540 for 2 Fillings, Poor Hit by High Costs at Dental Chain

[Stuart G]

MSNBC.com


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48033848/ns/health-health_care/

By David Heath
The Center for Public Integrity

updated 7/1/2012 2:41:00 PM ET
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Surviving on a meager $1,300 a month, 87-year-old Theresa Ferritto fretted about the cost when her dentist told her she needed two teeth pulled.
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She figured an oral surgeon would be too expensive. So she decided to try out a dental chain that promoted steep discounts in its advertisements. She went to an Aspen Dental office just outside Cleveland.

Ferritto said Aspen Dental wouldn’t just pull the teeth but insisted on a complete exam. She was bewildered when they finally handed her a treatment planfour pages long. Total price: $7,835.

Ferritto could not afford it, but Aspen Dental signed her up for a special credit card, with monthly payments of $186 for five years. She blames herself for signing the papers.

(more at link)
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Some of the greed out there ...is just incredible.

[russspeakeasy]

1. Hopefully, these fucking people will be run out of business.

[TheCowsCameHome]

2. That should go to the AG in her state. What BS.

That's terrible. I had two yanked by an oral surgeon for about $400 + $250 for gas and an xray, and I thought that has high.

Good grief.

[Historic NY]

3. I paid 2600 for a root canal a filling and a crown....

I don't have dental insurance but I do have a credit card.

[Highway61]

4. The four pages is a treatment plan.

"Plan" is the key word here. They did an exam and listed out EVERYTHING that needs to be done. She does NOT have to get the work done. The "credit card" is Care Credit. You only pay for what you use...period. You can only use Care Credit for Medical, Dental and Vet bills. Just because she "signed up" does by no means indicate that she HAS to do the work or use that card. I've worked for a dentist for years now. Patients come and go and everyone of them will get a treatment plan as to what needs to be done in the order of urgency. If they can't afford it we offer Care Credit. By no means do they have to have anything done. They get a copy of their treatment plan to take home and go somewhere else if they choose to shop around. This woman is being bamboozeled into something she has total control of. She needs someone to watch her back. At 87, she needs someone quick as these people are taking full advantage of her.

[Bill USA]

5. time to bring back some traditional treatments - for scam artists. Drawing and quartering should do

nicely.

Frontline had a report on this shit. here's the interview with Aspen CEO Bob Fontana: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/health-science-technology/dollars-and-dentists/aspen-dental-ceo-bob-fontana-were-big-advocates-for-the-patient/

Aspen signs people up to a special credit card which bills them even BEFORE any work is done!

[Mopar151]

6. Aspen =Bad

Big sign in their front window "Free exam & X-rays for new paitent" - somewhere on page K-7 of the bale of stuff you sign, says the free xxam only applies if you do not have dental insurance, and you get billed./collection agency;'d for about $300.