For years, we have used Delta for our dentists through the years, including cleanings, crowns, implants, etc. with good results. Late last year, our beloved dentist has discontinued Delta as an insurance provider. Lately, I have been doing a casual search in my local area for one (I need to have a crown done) and so far the three I have contacted say they don't accept Delta anymore. Delta is what my wife gets through her work, and it seems they are not switching out anytime soon.
Anybody else finding this with their own dentists/oral surgeons?
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Posts: 16704 | Location: Texas | Registered: May 13, 2003
Delta dental insurance is so ubiquitous around here that I suspect that if a dentist in this area did drop Delta, they'd lose at least 75% of their clients.
oddball - have you, by chance, asked your dentist, or the others you have reached out to, why they discontinued accepting Delta?
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Posts: 9042 | Location: Northern Virginia | Registered: November 04, 2005
I just switched to a new Dentist, and discovered he doesn't take Delta Dental. Sounds like one of those insurance companies that change their business model to the lowest ranking in insurance, otherwise known as shit insurance, where doctors don't get paid enough to bother with it. That's pretty low I'd imagine. I experienced it before, more than once over the years, with medical insurance, where they started out good, but went south and doctors start dropping them. So regarding Delta I don't know for sure, but my new independent dentist office doesn't contract with them. Prob because of exactly that reason, otherwise he would most likely.
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Posts: 8685 | Location: Nowhere the constitution is not honored | Registered: February 01, 2008
This happened to me about a year ago. The office didn’t inform me of this change until after my cleaning. They overcharged me as out of network, I got a refund months later from Delta Dental for like $30. Then I got a bill for $10 from the office.
I paid their bill and let them know that I would be switching my dentist to an office that accepted my insurance. They plead with me to do the out of network option and they’d work with me. I politely thanked them and declined.
I made sure that my new dentist knew why I left my previous one.
Posts: 4594 | Location: Redondo Beach, California | Registered: February 02, 2004
insurance companies that change their business model to the lowest ranking in insurance, otherwise known as shit insurance, where doctors don't get paid enough to bother with it. That's pretty low I'd imagine.
I do accounting & tax work for a private practice dentist. He stopped taking Delta insurance because he was losing money on all procedures. He did lose over 50% of his business but his net income has increased.
Not our dentist, but our medical group that provides dental insurance for retirees has switched from Delta Dental to MetLife Dental. Benefits are a little better for us; I of course don’t know how it affects the payments to dentists.
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Posts: 18069 | Location: One hop from Paradise | Registered: July 27, 2004
Originally posted by 229DAK: oddball - have you, by chance, asked your dentist, or the others you have reached out to, why they discontinued accepting Delta?
My dentist simply said "we can't work with them anymore, they have become incredibly difficult". The other dental offices I have contacted wouldn't elaborate, they just said sorry. But from what I see, it sounds like what wrightd described in his post. I just wanted to see if this was widespread, and not just specific to me locally. Monday, I will call further away from home, hopefully get reviews for those who take Delta.
"I’m not going to read Time Magazine, I’m not going to read Newsweek, I’m not going to read any of these magazines; I mean, because they have too much to lose by printing the truth"- Bob Dylan, 1965
Posts: 16704 | Location: Texas | Registered: May 13, 2003
I am not a dentist but can tell you it has to do with allowable charges and trouble getting paid. Suddenly paying less and then losing the bill or requiring preauthorization. Insurance companies. If you can make more with a different company and they actually pay those are the companies you deal with. The dentist should inform you ahead of time. The insurance company often fails to list network dentists making it look like they have a robust network.
Posts: 17238 | Location: Stuck at home | Registered: January 02, 2015
My dentist stopped taking all insurance about 1.5 yrs ago. She'll submit your bill to your insurer for you, but you pay cash or credit card on your way out the door. If your insurer covers anything, you get a check from your insurer a few weeks later. She's busy (or popular) enough that she just doesn't need to deal with getting paid what insurers feel like she should get paid. Seems to be working, as she just took on a partner and has hired some more staff.
Posts: 3540 | Location: Cave Creek, AZ | Registered: October 24, 2005
Three months ago I asked my longtime dentist if I should get insurance and he said I had already had most of the work done. Now I am looking at about $3500 in a root canal and two crowns. I have always "just paid the dentist" but the charges are pretty (make that really) steep. $3500 translates into four very nice handguns or one very nice quarter horse all for about two plus hours of work.
Yes, our dentist we've seen for the past ten years dropped Delta. Delta's reimbursements are comically low for the providers. I completely understand why Dentists are dropping them.
We were fortunate to find another practice in The Woodlands that still accepts Delta.
Posts: 11360 | Location: Texas | Registered: January 29, 2003
Yes, mine went out of network with all insurance providers. They still file for me, but it's considerably more expensive as it's out of network.
I'm kind of torn. Part of me wants to find a new dentist that takes the insurance, but I really like my dentist so I've stuck with him so far.
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Posts: 3514 | Location: Two blocks from the Center of the Universe | Registered: December 30, 2004
My employer uses Delta and is the largest employer in the state after the fed/state government. It would not be very smart for a provider to stop taking Delta around here.
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Posts: 17278 | Location: New Mexico | Registered: October 14, 2005
If Delta pays so little that the dentist loses money, then it wouldn't be very smart to keep accepting Delta. If a dentist is established and not paying off mountains of debt, they can afford to make less on certain patients just to keep with those insurers. But when every dollar counts, giving away your services is not a good longterm plan. And no provider's overhead goes down just because an insurance company decides to pay less for a procedure.
Posts: 3540 | Location: Cave Creek, AZ | Registered: October 24, 2005
