Dental insurance help, Can I be arrested for an unpaid dental work.
So here is my story. A few months back I had dental insurance though my job. I went and had some dental work done and paid my part of the dental services. During the end part of my dental work I changed jobs and lost my dental insurance.
Since I had paid for the dental insurance for the month I was in having the dental work I did not think anything would effect me since I figure the dental office would have filed the claim before my plan canceled. However the dental office did not file the claim until all the dental services were done causing it to be filed after my plan had cancel.
Do to that the company did not pay any of the dental work stating that it was done after my cancellation date. Even though the fact was most of all the dental work was done before the cancellation of my plan.
Now I have the dental office calling me for 700.00 dollars that I do not have. I told them part of this problem was on them for not filing the claim as I was having the dental services and I feel that I am will to pay for half but they should take the other half since it was their fault. I was told if I do not pay the bill I would be arrested for the unpaid balance due. That I lead them to believed that I had dental insurance when I knew it would be canceling I told them I had insurance at the time the services was started and that it their fault for not filing the claim on time.
I do not want to be arrested but I do not have $700.00 I really only could pay right now 200.00 of it but they said they will not take a payment plan and that I needed to pay the $700.00 to avoid me from being arrested.
Wednesday, Jun. 23rd 2010 9:24 AM at 9:24 am
Well you may want to talk things over with a lawyer. That said I would say off hand that your dental insurance company should cover out for the dental services that were completed before the cancellation date.
Anything after the cancellation date you should have to pay for. As an example: If you knew you needed a filling before the cancellation date but did not really have the filling done until after the cancellation date you would be on the hook for paying for the filling.
Wednesday, Jun. 23rd 2010 9:28 AM at 9:28 am
Here is the problem I see. You may have started work when you and your dental insurance in force. However it is up to you to maintain coverages while the dental services are being render.
The dentist is not going to submit a claim form to the insurance company for dental work not finished. That is common seance. You knew you were changing jobs. So you had the responsibility to either try and keep your dental insurance plan or notify the dentist your plan was going to be canceled at the end of the month.
Had the dentist had that important information they may have tried to get all your dental work finished before your plan canceled
Wednesday, Jun. 23rd 2010 9:32 AM at 9:32 am
I do not think this is the dental office issue. They filed the claim when your dental work was finished. I would however address this issue with the insurance company.
You started the dental services when you were insured. It seems to me that the insurance company should pick up some of your dental cost while you had the insurance.
I too agree this becomes more of a legal question then a dental question. In most cases you can find a lawyer that will talk to you for free. They will tell you whether or not you have a case against the dental office or the dental insurance company.Believe me they will not take on a case they can not win.