She had to sign a contract in order for the dentist that came to the facility to see her. Plus, $99 "a month" was taken out of her check for this. From my understanding, Social Security is ok with this. My issue is, even though mother did have her teeth (-+6) extracted (over a period of -+18 months), due to failing health she never received her dentures and sadly, passed away 5 months ago. Regardless, if the resident does not need the insurance, they are required to keep it for as long as they are a resident there.
The dentist received approximately $2,000 off of one resident (my mother) for a few extractions!!! I find this ridiculous and a rip off from the elderly and Social Security. Is this really legal?
This is only one issue i have with the Alabama Laws.
This dentist suggested extractions and new dentures but we turned the offer down because it seemed a terrible thing to put mom through all that pain.
So: your mother was charged $100 ish a month for 18 months, plus ad hoc charges for the extractions? And even though, very sadly I agree, she did not live to benefit from new dentures, did the dentist take impressions or do any work towards them, anything like that?
I must agree with you that for the facility to make dental cover compulsory seems questionable. Was there any choice about provider, could you retain your own dentist and pay separately if you'd wanted to?
Your mother wasn't really, was she now, charged $2K just for a few extractions. She paid for: access to the visiting service, check ups, the extractions and aftercare, plus any other work that was done. I appreciate the lasting sense of dissatisfaction, perhaps made worse by sorrow that she never benefited fully; and to repeat I don't know what's "normal"; but this certainly isn't the cheekiest charging I've ever seen.
What else has been going on?
Just curious. Mom was prepay? NH was her payee for SS? She had no dental coverage?
Or, was Mom on Medicaid for her care? If so Medicaid would have paid for the dental work so I guess not.