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I just got a letter in the mail today telling me my current blue cross blue shield dental and health coverage is being replaced come July 1 with "Wells Fargo" Insurance. Seems Wells Fargo insurance was low bid when the contract came up for renewal every 5 years and the entire State of Alaska changed over. I've never had a problem here with blue cross and blue shield dental insurance basically because it's the insurance used by State Of Hawaii employees also.
Problem is I'm retired and living on the Big Island and I can't find a dentist here in Hawaii that will take the new insurance carrier even though every dentist in Alaska changed over and is now taking it. Even my current dentist here in Hawaii said I better get in and get whatever teeth done before July 1 rolls around.
Health benefits on the other hand don't seem to be a problem here...they take just about anything!
Why won't dentists here take different types of insurance like medical providers do? Is it just because it's a hassle to have their office people bill different kinds of insurance with different rules?
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you might check with your "wells fargo" to see if YOU are supposed to file the claim rather than your dentist. does "wells fargo" have a list of participating dentists?
"chaos reigns within.
reflect, repent and reboot.
order shall return."
microsoft error message with haiku poetry
"a great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices."
w. james
Posts: 156
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All I can say is we are in the same boat. We were here during the last shift from Aetna to Blue Cross that the State of Alaska did.We encountered the same problem with that switch, although my dentist did override his help by telling them we had been there long enough to just go ahead and bill it. I am going to have to go through this again with them and see what happens this time. My understanding is that the State of Ak and Wells Fargo are going to be making sure the Alaskacare is branded more thoroughly this time around so that when we change administrators we hopefully won't have to go through this any more.And it is every three years this happens,not five, unless we are lucky and the current administrator for our insurance wins the bid again. It is sad, as, I am sure you know, our insurance pays better than anything here locally. They pay better and faster, which my doctor quickly discovered after she took us on. She was shocked and impressed with how quickly they paid and at better rates. The dentist acknowledged this also.
I guess if things don't work out, we will have to pay out of pocket and bill the insurance, which is what I used to do, but it is a bummer when you have good insurance that no one wants to take.
Good luck,
Carole
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Our new insurance has no participating dentists in Hawaii. They "do" have them in every other state in the nation. It's either short sightedness on the insurers part...or Hawaii dentists really don't want to be apart of this new network for whatever reason.
We can't afford to pay the entire cost of a medical or dental providers work up front (even if we do get the money back in 6 weeks)...We barely have enough money every month for food. That makes this dental insurance worthless in hawaii.
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We have California Blue Cross and the doctors and dentists we use give us a bill and a form and we have to file our own claims (paying up front for everything). Then the check comes to us. The Doctor told me that the reason is various policies have deductibles and therefore they don't really know if the patient has met the deductible and that they have been burned a lot, so they only take Hawaii Insurance. We are going to have to switch to a Hawaiian Insurance Company in the fall, as we are using Cobra now.
Aloha au i Hawai`i,
devany
www.myhawaiianhome.blogspot.com
www.eastbaypotters.blogspot.com
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I sure don't know what the answer is. My dentist was saying last year that things were so tight with the dentist situation here that no one was being able to get in to see a dentist if they were new. He was turning people away right and left. I know now there are a few that are accepting new patients, but as far as the insurance goes, no one here is probably going to take it. That is what happens when they already have enough business that they do not need to try and help people, plus the fact the only insurance they are used to dealing with are the big ones from here, most times even the doctors won't take anything except what they are used to dealing with. Like I said it sucks, and is quite frustrating. I know now to never expect any of them to accept my insurance, and then feel lucky if I find someone who does.
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Look into Thailand or Mexico. I first got Mexican dental care while cruising. What I save in treatment costs more than pays for the transportation there. Thailand another good option some folks say – check with Pam – she is up on the board time to time
In the meantime I get my six month check up cleanings where ever I am ... be bop back to mexi town when I need work. The last crown and root canal a few years ago was $400.00
Cleanings, minor stuff costs the same and can best be done locally, but when one "needs work" Mexico wins hands down for value (including air fare & hotel costs) in my book.
10$ all you can eat lobsters – yum!
Aloha
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quote:
Originally posted by Devany
We have California Blue Cross and the doctors and dentists we use give us a bill and a form and we have to file our own claims (paying up front for everything). Then the check comes to us. The Doctor told me that the reason is various policies have deductibles and therefore they don't really know if the patient has met the deductible and that they have been burned a lot, so they only take Hawaii Insurance. We are going to have to switch to a Hawaiian Insurance Company in the fall, as we are using Cobra now.
Aloha au i Hawai`i,
devany
www.myhawaiianhome.blogspot.com
www.eastbaypotters.blogspot.com
we couldn't afford to pay the cobra premiums so opted to sign up for kaiser for medical insurance. the rates are according to gender and age and selected plan. we also hooked up with HDS (hawaii dental service) which is $35.90 per person/per month. there's a cheaper plan, but the coverage isn't as good. you can sign up online.
on a side note: i usually have a yearly check-up and cleaning because it's a rarity that i have any dental problems. it pays to floss every day.
--------------
"chaos reigns within.
reflect, repent and reboot.
order shall return."
microsoft error message with haiku poetry
"a great many people think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices."
w. james
Posts: 51
Threads: 7
Joined: Apr 2009
We offer dental polciies for individuals.
http://www.insurancehi.com/index.php?opt...iew&id=35 click for the rates description of coverage and application.
Personally I had to switch dentists last month because we changed insurance companies. We got in with Island Ohana Dental in Hilo with no problem. It was the most thorough cleaning and exam I have ever had.
Dan De Soto
Mutual Underwriters
Insurance Agent
www.insurancehi.com
dan@mutualunderwriters.com
Tel: 808-961-3207
Fax: 808-969-1120
275 Ponahawai St., Ste#105
Hilo, HI 96720
Dan De Soto
Mutual Underwriters
Insurance Agent
www.insurancehi.com
dan@mutualunderwriters.com
Tel: 808-961-3207
Fax: 808-969-1120
275 Ponahawai St., Ste#105
Hilo, HI 96720
