Delta Dental generic
Delta Dental PPO
Delta Dental Premier
Dental generic
Health Partners Dental
Health Partners Dental Choice
University Choice (Delta)
Delta Dental generic – 2007 comments
1/7/2008 3:21 PM:
I'm an out stater, my Delta card says Delta Dental
Premier/PPO
I got this from another member of the Extension Staff
Consultative Committee, and did not receive your bulk e-mail, although I've
been U staff since 1996.
My only issue with Delta was this past fall when I
called them to ask how much of the $1250 I had left for this year so I could
plan whether to have the needed crown done or wait for the 2008 benefit year.
Since they only send EOB's when there is a co-pay, I did not know how close I
was to max'ing out my year's allotment of dental benefits.
I was told that there was enough left so that I
should only have to pay the 20% co pay of $159. Imagine my surprise when I
received their EOB saying I owed about $400. Luckily, I had all but $113. of
that left in my FSA, but still that unplanned amount coming out of my budget
right before the Christmas holidays put a crimp in things.
When I called, it turned out that the person
who originally helped me hadn't managed to subtract carefully and misjudged how
close I was to the max yearly benefit.
1/7/2008 6:10 PM:
I had no difficulty with my Delta Dental insurance
this year and appreciated that
1/7/2008 6:28 PM:
As a whole, I am happy with my experiences with Delta
Dental and my dental benefits. I do wish, however that there was coverage
for adults who wish to get and would benefit from braces.
1/8/2008 5:53 AM
I have Delta Dental PPO or Premier (the ID card
doesn't say which it is, just reads "Premier/PPO" and group number
006090-0106) and I am perfectly satisfied with the coverage and service from
Delta Dental.
1/8/2008 7:30 AM: Email said Delta Dental Premier/PPO
I have been MOST happy with this plan.
1/8/2008 8:16 AM: (referred to OHR Benefits)
I am commenting on my experience with Delta
Dental. About 3-4 months ago I needed to have a crown put in. The
Dentist was not able to determine whether I needed a root canal or just a
crown. They referred me to a specialist who determined that a crown would
be sufficient. Delta Dental refused to pay for the referral to the
specialist, they said they do not pay for consulting services. I was
billed $120. I found this to be very frustrating. If the Dentist
doesn't have the skills to make the correct determination, why am I punished
for their lack of skills. Secondly, all of them were wrong. They
put in the crown and now I am still suffering pain in the same tooth. Now
according to the insurance plan with Delta I cannot have any work done on that
same tooth for two years or I will have to pay the total cost out of
pocket. Other than coverage for regular preventive check ups I think all
of our Dental plans are very weak.
1/8/2008 9:00 AM:
Last year I was enrolled with Delta Dental. My
only frustration is the maximum limit they put on the amount of coverage you
have. Unfortunately, I had to have a root canal, a crown and regular
check-ups which meant I paid more out of pocket. If there is a way to
select increased coverage to eliminate out of pocket that would be more
beneficial. You can't often predict what dental care is needed and it
would be worth it to me to pay a higher premium. It would be peace of
mind.
1/8/2008 9:01 AM:
We have been very pleased with Delta.
They cover what they say they will. It is seamless with our dentist's
office (Dr. Harrison on Como Ave.).
1/8/2008 9:02 AM:
We have had no problems with the dental plan - great service. Has met my families needs.
1/8/2008 10:01 AM:
I have Delta Dental Premier/PPO, but I think the problem is the same in all plans. There is an annual limit, $1500 I think, on the amount paid out. Some years when I have just routine care, the payout is nowhere near the limit, but other years it becomes a significant factor. Sometimes I have rescheduled a major procedure such as a crown replacement or bridge to the next year. This leaves some of the past year's maximum unused. In other cases, I have gritted my teeth (so to speak) and gone ahead, knowing that I would have to pick up almost all the cost. Major dental work can be unpredictable. If you knew ahead of time when a crown would break, or a root would abscess, you could plan the treatment to take best advantage of the financial aspects. But that is seldom the case. Of course every plan has to have limits. That's the only way to keep cost manageable. But if the limit were a three-year running average, let's say, rather than a rigid annual limit, it would be a lot easier on patients whose needs fluctuate from year to year.
1/8/2008 10:06 AM:
My coverage has been excellent!
1/8/2008 10:31 AM:
I have Delta and have been very pleased with the
service. IÕve had no billing or coverage problems in this past year or in
years prior.
1/8/2008 12:08 PM: (referred to OHR)
Overall, Delta Dental provides very good routine dental coverage for the cost. However, in Crookston, there is only one provider who actually will accept the insurance, which really limits our ability to seek dental care anywhere except with the one provider. Also, orthodontic coverage is poor because of the lack of providers in the area. Even Grand Forks, which is about 40 minutes from here, doesn't accept the plan. It is very frustrating. Now, I will end of paying 50% of orthodontic treatment instead of 80%. I guess it is better than nothing, but I just wanted to share some of the frustrations from the Crookston campus. Also, reimbursement for orthodontic care has been a very frustrating. Takes a long time to get money from them. Thank you for your time.
1/9/2008 12:07 PM:
I am satisfied with the plan. Glad I have it.
1/9/2008 4:12 PM:
To Whom It May Concern:
I choose to see a non participating provider for some
of my dental treatment.
Unfortunately, the out of network benefits are lousy even for a periodic
exam. I have also had a crown done
previously by the same provider and the payment made by Delta was embarrassing.
I do appreciate the fact that we have access to
dental coverage, and while I realize insurance companies are in business to
make money, their allowables for non participating provider vs a participating
provider is terrible.
Please feel free to contact me if you have further
questions. I work at the School of
Dentistry and have been dealing with some aspect of dental benefits (insurance
coverage) for patients here at the School for 9+ years.
1/11/2008 6:03 PM:
I've had no trouble at all with claims with Delta
Dental. Would be sorry to lose
them.
1/13/2008 8:09 PM:
I have not had any problems with the Delta Dental
plan.
1/15/2008 11:52 AM:
I have only positive comments. I have my work done at Boynton and have
not had any problems with coverage.
The care has been very good.
1/24/2008 10:48 PM:
Only one nitpick about the Delta coverage, and it's tied to the ADA'a
problems with defining how exam codes should be used and by whom. Delta will cover 4 perio preventive maintenance procs a year (04910, I think), but only 2 exams (00120). But my perio folks always do and bill for an exam along with the perio proc. Their billing consultant says to do it that way. Delta implies that they shouldn't, but pays whatever exams come to them first. And so my general dentist's exam may or may not be paid for depending on when it occurs. Also the exam that goes with one of my 3 perio procs.
I'd like to see a depending-on-circumstances in the contract.
1/29/2008 2:23 PM:
I am past the deadline for comments on the UPlan
dental plans, but I do have a question: I am wondering what the difference is
between Delta Dental PPO and Delta Dental Premier (besides the price). I go to
Associated Dentists in St. Paul, and my dentist is not listed in the Delta
Dental PPO list, so I have to pay more and use Delta Dental Premier.
Delta Dental PPO – 2007 comments
1/7/2008 3:12 PM:
I am a full-time faculty at the School of Dentistry and have a current concern with plans offered and providers. Last year Faculty Practice at the SOD ceased providing for Delta Dental PPO. As a faculty at the SOD I would like to be able to see my fellow faculty members with the insurance options that I have selected but am no longer able to. The faculty provider for my children only accepts Delta Dental PPO in private practice. This is a minor concern but I felt it applied to the opinions polled.Thank You.
1/7/2008 3:12 PM:
Delta Dental PPO
I signed up for this plan because the dentist I
planned to go to was listed in the provider directory, however after my
appointment I found out they were no longer participating in the program and
therefore my insurance covered nothing.
I contacted Delta Dental about this and they said their provider
directory is not accurate and therefore it is my responsibility to check with
my dentist's office to find out whether or not they accept my insurance. Being a new employee of the University
of Minnesota I figured the directory would be accurate and feel as though since
the directory can be found online that the information should be updated
regularly.
1/7/2008 3:15 PM:
I had Delta Dental PPO last year and I had a bad
experience with coverage. I have been going to the same dentist since I was 17
years old and when I switched to the University's Delta Dental PPO I asked the
receptionist at my dentist if they accepted my plan. She said yes and I had two
appointments there in the spring. Then suddenly during the summer I received a
huge bill from the dentist for my two visits. I called the U of M Delta Dental
helpline and it took them forever to figure out what had happened. They finally
told me that I had no coverage with my dentist and I had to pay everything out
of pocket. Because of this incident my husband and I have not gone to the
dentist since then even though we were due for a cleaning this past fall. We
did not want to spend the time trying to find a different dentist to go to
because I knew that I would be able to switch dental plans in 2009. We probably
both have some extra cavities because of this, but the dental coverage network
is difficult to navigate. We are planning on going again next week now that I
am paying more for the better coverage, but everything turned out to be a pain.
Also, they send me new dental coverage cards quite frequently and that is
confusing as well...
1/7/2008 3:35 PM:
I have the Delta Dental PPO, and I have been very
happy. I don't have a lot of
dental problems, so I am happy with my semiannual cleanings. Last year I was referred once to an
oral surgeon for a mass in my lower jaw, and there were no problems with
insurance claims or anything. I
was able to find a dentist close to my residence and am very happy with the
service I receive. I find the
premium reasonable, too.
I hope you receive many positive comments about the
Delta PPO. Thank you
1/7/2008 3:54 PM:
I have been very satisfied with my dental insurance plan. In one instance, I had a dental health concern and contacted my dentist and insurance provider to address the question and was allowed to make two visits both fully covered.
1/7/2008 4:25 PM:
I have coverage for Delta Dental PPO for my son and
me. I have been very satisfied with the plan. We have not had any problems or issues with our dentist or
the billing process.
1/7/2008 5:09 PM:
I have Delta Dental PPO. My biggest problem with the
coverage is that they don't offer good coverage for composite fillings. Most
good dentists prefer not to or flat out refuse to put in metal fillings
anymore. Some dentists find them unhealthy as there is lead content in them and
they don't last as long and often crack. This leaves me covering most of the
fillings I need because my Dentist at Boynton strongly suggests that metal
fillings are a bad choice and an unhealthy one. I think there should be a
larger amount covered for something that is becoming a standard of care.
Thanks
1/7/2008 5:12 PM:
I have Delta Dental PPO, and while I'm happy with the
ROUTINE coverage of 6 month checkup and cleanings, I'm frustrated with how much
caries are to fill. Very little is covered aside from routine care.
I'm grateful to have dental coverage, but it'd be
nicer if more was covered. For example, most dentists ROUTINELY will not put in
silver/mercury cavities, and only routinely place in tooth-colored cavities.
Instead, Delta Dental PPO only covers it for silver, which is then deducted
from the tooth-colored cost. The savings is minimal, and it should be mandatory
that they cover what is ROUTINE (i.e., tooth-colored).
1/7/2008 5:44 PM:
I really liked the low cost of the Delta Dental
PPO. However, I did run into one
problem while I had that coverage:
I switched dentists and discovered (after getting a filling) that my new
dentist only uses composite fillings, but my plan only covered amalgam
fillings. I donÕt know if itÕs
possible to add coverage for composite fillings while keeping the low cost, but
IÕm sure IÕm not the only one who would appreciate it if it can be done.
(In the meantime I have switched to one of the other
dental plans that does cover composite fillings, because this is the first good
dentist IÕve had in years and I donÕt want to stop going just because of the
type of fillings she uses.)
1/7/2008 6:08 PM:
Hello, I have had two pieces of dental work done
under this scheme in 2007. I am from the UK so was slightly surprised that the
dentist felt the need to obtain confirmation that the insurance would pay
before starting work. They did pay for both items and I was satisfied with the
results.
1/7/2008 6:58 PM:
I had Delta Deltal PPO last year and didn't realize
it did not cover white fillings. Neither did my dentist (they assumed that
everyone had the Premier) and I got hit with an $800 bill. I don't know why the
PPO is even offered, since the difference in cost with Premier is small but the
difference in benefits is huge. Also, people like me who get the different ones
confused can really get killed by their ignorance. Needless to say, I have Premier
this year.
1/7/2008 8:52 PM:
This plan has worked well for me and my children. Thanks.
1/7/2008 9:00 PM:
As of this year, the dental clinic at the University
hospital no longer accepts Delta PPO, only Delta Premier, which is the more
expensive coverage. My guess is that the their services are more expensive. It
did create somewhat of an inconvenience to find other doctors and move records.
Not a huge deal, but I would have preferred if I didn't need to move
This may not be the type of comment you were looking
for, but for the small chance that it is, I thought I would air it.
1/7/2008 10:15 PM:
Plan: Delta Dental PPO
Negative Comment
We were surprised that nitrous oxide is not covered
for children receiving fillings.
1/8/2008 7:01 AM:
I have Delta Dental PPO and am happy with it.
1/8/2008 7:13 AM:
I have Delta Dental PPO and have had a good
experience with the plan in general. I have not had to contact their
office regarding billing questions, there haven't been any billing errors, I am
able to stay with the dentist office my family has been using for 10 years, and
coverage seems to be very good, with little or no out of pocket expenses thus
far, beyond what is deducted from my paycheck.
1/8/2008 7:18 AM:
Delta Dental PPO has been awesome to work with! When you call, you actually get to talk
with a live person and the answers they have given me have always been
accurate. My dental office has never
had issues with claims not being paid.
I am very satisfied with them and I give them an excellent rating.
1/8/2008 7:18 AM:
I am very satisfied with my Delta Dental PPO and to date I have had no concerns. I only hope that my dentist remains in this particular plan.
1/8/2008 7:56 AM:
Delta Dental PPO
My one complaint with this program is that it does
not provide adequate coverage for current standard of care materials for
routine fillings -- which are the white fillings, not the metal amalgams. Some providers do not even offer the
amalgams, and so I think it is ridiculous that the care plan is so far behind
the standard of care.
1/8/2008 8:00 AM:
I have Delta Dental PPO. I am very satisfied and hope it continues.
1/8/2008 8:05 AM:
My wife and I have utilized the Delta Dental PPO plan multiple times over the past year and we have not had any problems with coverage.
1/8/2008 8:15 AM: (referred to OHR Benefits)
Because of the reduced benefit level, my dental office stopped carrying PPO. In addition, the one dentist who was in the plan took another job. I've been with this office 10 years and didn't want to change dentists, so essentially I was without coverage for the last 3 months of the year and I hoped that no dental work needed to be done.
1/8/2008 8:17 AM:
I have Delta Dental PPO and use Boyton health service as a provider and have been very pleased with the service.
1/8/2008 8:30 AM: (referred to OHR)
I am very satisfied with this plan and extremely glad to see coverage for dental implants (I've waited to replace a pulled tooth for about seven years and now have the implant). My only comment is that the plan pays 80 percent for crowns but when a crown is installed as part of a dental implant, they will only cover 50 percent. As the implant work is a separate entity, done by a different practitioner, that coverage could be treated at 50 percent without also reducing the coverage for the crown (done by the primary dentist). That part should be covered at 80 percent. Thank you for soliciting our comments.
1/8/2008 8:31 AM:
Dental PPO does not cover "white" fillings, which is outrageous in my opinion. I switched to HP and delayed my dental work because of this fact. Everyone knows that "silver" fillings don't last as long and they also leak heavy metals, such as mercury. I was disappointed in Dental PPO.
1/8/2008 8:32 AM:
I am, for the moment, quite satisfied with the
plan. This is directly related to
the fact that I am quite happy with my dentist, and his hygienist.
Thanks for the opportunity to comment on the Delta
Dental PPO plan. My plan covers my husband, two young sons, and me.
Overall, we have been pleased with our dental
coverage. I recently had to have emergency dental surgery, and felt that our
share of the payment was quite reasonable. We've found it easy to identify
competent dentists in the plan and in our part of the city, and the plan's
processing of benefits has been prompt and accurate.
If we could make one suggestion, we'd like to see
better coverage for preventive dental care. An example: Our plan covers two
visits per year for cleaning and exam. But one member of our family needs to
see the dentist for care three times a year (this has been the case for several
years, even when we lived in another state). Currently, the plan does not
acknowledge the dentist's recommendation for more frequent cleaning, nor the
patient's acknowledgment of the need. We pay for additional visits
out-of-pocket, or get reimbursed from our health savings account.
If you have any further questions, please feel free
to contact me.
1/8/2008 8:47 AM:
I was very pleased with the plan. It was easy to find a provider near me, the billing was handled without any hassle, and the coverage was what I expected from reading the plan materials. My family had no negative issues.
1/8/2008 8:48 AM:
We have the Delta Dental PPO. It has been perfectly
fine for routine dental visits, and we have not used it for anything else
(thankfully).
1/8/2008 8:52 AM:
I am very happy with my plan and especially with my provider. I went to Apple Dental in Coon Rapids. I had not been to the dentist for a few years and was very nervous - I have double coverage with Delta Dental also having coverage through my husband. I had one broken filling I knew of and figured with having double coverage they would "find" other things that needed to be done - they didn't! I honestly have had that happen before in the past (not with coverage through the U or Delta Dental). My claims were handled quickly and the EOB easy to read - I am very pleased with the coverage, the cost of the coverage to me, Delta Dental and my individual provider.
1/8/2008 8:55 AM:
I'm happy with the overall service associated with this plan. The only change I would like to see happen is that Delta Dental offer some type of adult orthodontics coverage. Please let me know if you have any further questions regarding my comments. Thank you and have a good day.
1/8/2008 8:57 AM:
I hope I read Gavin WattÕs e-mail correctly that I am
to share my experiences with you. I just wanted someone to know that this year
I switched from Delta PPO to Delta Premier because
1.
so few dentists will
service people with Delta PPO. I called several dentists who would bill Delta
Premier but not Delta PPO. I wasted time going to out to a new dentist whose
appointment person didnÕt know the difference and I was told they wouldnÕt
accept Delta PPO when I arrived.
2.
I finally found a
dentist who took PPO, I liked him, he did some work for me, and then he dropped
PPO.
3.
The only place I think
that will really take it is Boynton.
I have inherited gum disease and therefore dental
insurance is extremely important to me. I had a dentist in Northfield, I
continued to see after I moved to Minneapolis. Because I consider the UÕs
insurance so good, I decided to go to a dentist closer to work / home. When I
attended the Benefits Fair, people basically told me the 2 plans were
essentially the same. They are not under PPO and I hope other people with
similar experiences who canÕt find dentists or are dropped because of PPO will
write in.
I appreciate being able to comment. I really
appreciate my benefits and working here.
1/8/2008
9:09 AM: (referred to OHR)
I had a cavity filled last month - first one in over
35 years. I was shocked at how little the insurance covered.
It turned out to be a moderately large filling and my
dentist put in the white ceramic filling material. Insurance discounted the
$225 filling to $95, because they would only cover the amalgam filling material
and then covered 80% of that.
So in the end, they only paid only $75 on a $225
filling, leaving me with $150 out of pocket! I think that is outrageous, when
it is not new technology or material has clear benefits. The ceramic is not
only a cosmetic solution, but due to the size of the filling it allows much
improved durability, and also allowed the flexibility to patch not only the
ground out cavity but also areas of de-calcification of that tooth along the
gum line, reducing sensitivity to cold.
I was very disappointed in the coverage. Since I
hadn't had a filling in so many decades, I never considered that aspect of
coverage when selecting a dental plan, and unfortunately, I had the filling in
Dec., after open enrollment was over.
1/8/2008 9:10 AM:
I have the PPO with Delta Dental. I have mixed
feelings with my plan. I like how I can change my dentist each year but I do
not like it that each tooth is being kept track of. I have to wait 2 years for
some work to be done on a tooth if I already had work done on it. This should
not be. I also just had a dentist close by me cancel with Delta Dental. That is
not a good sign to me. I'm not sure what is happening.
1/8/2008 9:11 AM:
I am pleased with the Delta Dental PPO
benefits. A dentist that my daughter left in 2005-06, because he was not
a preferred provider, was added for 2006-07 and she was able to return to this
dentist, who sheÕd had since she was three years old (sheÕs 12 now).
I experienced the need for a dental implant last year
and am glad that almost half of the cost (which was more than $3,000) was
covered by dental insurance. It was a huge financial commitment
personally, but I really had no interest in having a ÒhillbillyÓ smile the rest
of my days. Raising the coverage to $1,500 this year will help many
employees, IÕm sure.
Thanks for the opportunity to share some positive feedback.
1/8/2008 9:21 AM:
My only problem with the Delta Dental PPO plan is
that it seems like it isn't accepted anywhere. I have been to a couple of
dentists, one in Eden Prairie where I have gone since I was a child, and one in
Richfield, where my fiance works, and neither of them accept Delta Dental PPO.
This is frustrating because then I have to go to a dentist who has no idea of
my dental history.
1/8/2008 9:21 AM:
After years of straightforward service with Delta
Dental, I failed to realize that the low cost Delta Option would not cover my
regular dental office. I have been paying out of pocket since.
While this is entirely my fault for the over site when renewing my
application, it might be nice to have a little more emphasis on the limited
options for the low cost Delta plan.
1/8/2008 9:30 AM:
I had negative experiences with the Delta dental
ppo--this was family coverage for my spouse and two children. Specifically:
1. I'm sure I checked whether our dentist was
included in the plan before I downgraded from the more expensive Delta plan (to
save money--I think the premiums are rather high), but apparently this changed
sometime between my checking and when family members actually visited the
dentist, because we found out when we got the bill that we had no coverage. Do
we have to check everytime we visit the dentist to make sure they are still on
the plan?
2. I was unaware when that when I got fillings Delta
only provided coverage to a certain level and everything beyond that is from
your pocket (this is with the ppo plan only). I go to Boyton where I think they
are providing services at a reasonable cost, but Delta's reimbursement was
laughably low, leaving me to foot the bill.
I have been forced to upgrade to the more expensive
Delta option since the ppo option was totally unacceptable--I was afraid of
what expenses we might get hit with if we had to undergo something more complex
than just a filling, but even with the upgraded plan I am still very unhappy
with the high cost relative to the low level of coverage. Why is it that our
family spends far more on our teeth than on the rest entire rest of our bodies
(our medical coverage is excellent)?
Thank you for gathering these comments--this signals
to me that there must be some concern about Delta Dental within the UM
community and I'm glad that this is on the radar screen.
1/8/2008 9:30 AM:
I have going to Metro Dental and its predecessors for
my entire life. I've never had a problem with how Delta Dental has
facilitated that connection. In fact, I've been happy that Delta Dental
has provided some limitations on the amount of service Metro Dental can
provide. I'm happy getting X-Rays every 2 years instead of every year as
my provider would like. There have been other areas where the provider
has suggested aggressive approaches, but admitted that Delta Dental might not
support them. At age 65, my teeth are in good shape and I don't need or
want excessive treatment.
1/8/2008 9:40 AM:
Just one comment - expand the lifetime limit on
orthodontic services (Delta Dental PPO).
1/8/2008 9:44 AM:
I am enrolled in the Delta Dental PPO plan. In 2007 I
needed periodontal care in addition to regular cleanings. I found the
administrator to be helpful in answering questions and prompt in making
payments, so I am pleased with the plan.
1/8/2008 9:52 AM:
I just have one concern regarding the PPO option.
In 2007, I was forced to change dental providers twice as smaller dental
offices are no longer able to keep up with costs given the reimbursement amounts
they get from PPO option patients, so for 2008 I have switched to the Premier
option in order to still be able to see a dentist in a smaller office with a
better quality of care than a large clinic, which I would be forced to do if I
had stuck with the PPO option. I would urge the University to let go of
the PPO option as the base plan, as it is not reimbursing dentists enough to
cover costs. Thank you for taking my input.
1/8/2008 9:56 AM:
I believe I had Delta Dental PPO last year. My
comments are:
Very good service--was very pleased with the coverage
of my 2 basic cleanings (all I needed).
However I switched dental plans for 2008, to a plan
covering white (instead of silver) fillings for all teeth if I need them in the
future--as I was surprised to learn that Delta PPO would only cover silved
fillings in back teeth. My dentist said he won't even insert silver fillings
any more--too dangerous.
1/8/2008 10:01 AM: (referred to OHR)
In 2006 I chose Delta Dental PPO as my dental plan
for the 2007 calendar year. I only chose this plan after diligently
exploring my options, spending several hours reading the material and
confirming with my dentist that they took this insurance.
My hard work and diligence went to waste.
Several weeks after a routine visit with my dentist, I found out that they in
fact did not accept this insurance. I had to pay for my visit out of my
pocket and never used the insurance that I paid for the entire year of
2006. Mainly because there was only ONE dentist that took this insurance
in my area and I heard bad things about them from another employee.
I had thought that this mistake was due to my
dentistÕs receptionist misinforming me, however, this year when I received my
card and read the name of the plan I elected, I thought there was a huge
problem, because it said ÒPPOÓ (this is what my dentist said that they donÕt
take). I contacted the Benefits Office and they said that it wasnÕt a
mistake, and that I was in the Delta group with the WIDEST coverage range.
I could now see how confusing the NAMES of the plans were and how my dentistÕs
receptionist would have told me that they took Delta Dental PPO in 2006 when
they actually didnÕt. IÕm sure she was as confused as I was.
I think the lesser of the Delta plans should be
eradicated, since there arenÕt many dentists that take it. However if it
is kept, itÕs important to have very different names for the two plans to
alleviate confusion.
1/8/2008 10:30 AM:(referred to OHR)
I don't have the time to comment fully on this last
year with delta dental PPO. But will briefly explain here what a living
nightmare the interface between the U of MN's cost cutting measures, delta
dental and Health partner's medical has been for my family.
My son needed and still
needs extensive work done on his teeth. Between the U of MN dental
school, the U's apparent over ride of HP policy that children over the age of
five (which is over the age of 12 for health partners in general) and the lack
of The U of Mn's dental school having anyone to help line up insurance, and
interface with HP medical. I have been fighting sometimes on the phone daily
for over SIX MONTHS to get approval and payment for my six year old to have
rotting and abscessed teeth taken out of his mouth.
The U's denying payment for anesthesia for a six year
old to have 2 hours worth of painful surgery is draconian and cruel.
Funny part is I am paid such a low wage at the U that
financially I qualify for FREE medical coverage through the state, who would
allow this procedure, however I cannot get state health insurance because my
employer offers it at quite a high cost. Yes it would almost make more sense to
quit and go back on Minnesota Care so my children can get adequate health care
coverage.but that would make me a bad mom wouldn't it.
So I continue to call during lunch breaks and such
hoping that the teeth in my sons head don't abscess and cost us another
expensive visit to the emergency room great Job U of MN, Delta Dental and
HeathPartners. I'll be praying for single payer insurance
Please understand that I am primarily a reasonable
and friendly woman but as a mom I am at wits end with this situation.
I realize that you , whoever you are, are not the
problem but am hoping you will pass this information on to whomever makes these
decisions.
thanks
1/8/2008 10:35 AM:
I have Delta Dental PPO. (referred to OHR)
Worked great - never had to worry about it. The only comment is that when I first got the card there is nothing stating that it is coverage for my whole family. This