Paul's Journal
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06/18/2011 21:28 #54529
Voyage 3 is awesomeCategory: music
06/18/2011 15:21 #54524
GHI Dental Insurance Sucks and so does Advantage Dentistry on Elmwood in KenmoreCategory: insurance
Since I have had GHI, I have been to two different in-plan dentists and both have not worked out for me. Considering what every other dentist says about GHI, it makes me think they are crap.
The first in plan dentist was Dr. McClure on Utica. The place seemed dusty/dirty which I found gross for a dentists office and I got sick both time I went. So did "she who will remain nameless", so it is not just me being picky. I have been to the dentist so many times before, I was never sick afterwards accept there. Not only that he tried to talk me into like $6000 worth of braces at his friends practice, something no other dentist has ever mentioned me needing.
Needless to say I stopped and went back to my family dentist in Kenmore which I liked much better. Sadly, they did not take GHI, so after one checkup and a filling I decided to try another in network dentist, figuring it can't be all bad.
I tried "Advantage Dentistry" on elmwood in Kenmore and they totally fucked up my teeth. Not only did the dentist give me a shitty cheap metal crown which I am allergic to, he fucked it up so bad that food gets stuck under it, a month after I got it, a piece of the cement got lodged in my gums, he accidentally drilled/chippped the tooth behind it which now needs to be repaired, as the chip, led to a hole, which became a cavity. Then there is the orange tongue drama started right after I got the crown (e:paul,54192) . I went back for a cleaning and complained about the orange tongue, the metal taste and the fact that my gums were receding around the new crown wherever the metal was sticking out. They said we could monitor it for next time. Maybe it was just a reaction to the cement?!
Even the ADA site says, "While porcelain-fused-to-metal restorations are highly biocompatible, some patients may show an allergic sensitivity to some types of metals used in the restoration." Well, I am one of those patients! What a surprise considering I am allergic to just about everything and told them that at the onset.
I hate that place so much. Not only that, they kept trying to get me to get mercury fillings which have the exact same kind of metals.
So I decided to try another out of network dentist. There happens to be one right across the street from me and it the office seemed nice and high tech, clean, and they don't do mercury dentistry. I thought it was a perfect match. Problem is they don't take GHI and GHI covers such a small part of the bill. I don't understand how this works. I had a dentist check up that cost $75 and GHI will only cover $19 despite my supposed $2300/year allowance. Here you can see their 2009 health benefits breakdown
No wonder the in network dentists are so shitty. They are basically doing an examination for $19.
To me it seems its not worth having dental insurance. Whatever someone (I or the state) has paid over the last 5 years must be more than I am getting out of it. I am going to see if I can cancel it and just buy private insurance or just pay out of pocket. I mean in the long run, I think they are winning.
According to this 2001 article (I know out of date but it was all I could find) the state is paying for the benefits and really they only pay the in network dentists the amount they reimburse me, meaning they work for nothing, which to me translates to shitty dentists.
I would rather get involved in a group plan that we all contribute to but has better coverage.
I have left the network twice and each time the other dentists are way better and can't believe any other dentist would accept GHI. Its just now I have $2000 worth of work scheduled, $1200 of which is fixing the fuckup (broken crown, massive gap between teeth, chipped tooth) from advantage dentistry, argh! I almost want to sue them but its not worth the lawyer for the amount of money.
The first in plan dentist was Dr. McClure on Utica. The place seemed dusty/dirty which I found gross for a dentists office and I got sick both time I went. So did "she who will remain nameless", so it is not just me being picky. I have been to the dentist so many times before, I was never sick afterwards accept there. Not only that he tried to talk me into like $6000 worth of braces at his friends practice, something no other dentist has ever mentioned me needing.
Needless to say I stopped and went back to my family dentist in Kenmore which I liked much better. Sadly, they did not take GHI, so after one checkup and a filling I decided to try another in network dentist, figuring it can't be all bad.
I tried "Advantage Dentistry" on elmwood in Kenmore and they totally fucked up my teeth. Not only did the dentist give me a shitty cheap metal crown which I am allergic to, he fucked it up so bad that food gets stuck under it, a month after I got it, a piece of the cement got lodged in my gums, he accidentally drilled/chippped the tooth behind it which now needs to be repaired, as the chip, led to a hole, which became a cavity. Then there is the orange tongue drama started right after I got the crown (e:paul,54192) . I went back for a cleaning and complained about the orange tongue, the metal taste and the fact that my gums were receding around the new crown wherever the metal was sticking out. They said we could monitor it for next time. Maybe it was just a reaction to the cement?!
Even the ADA site says, "While porcelain-fused-to-metal restorations are highly biocompatible, some patients may show an allergic sensitivity to some types of metals used in the restoration." Well, I am one of those patients! What a surprise considering I am allergic to just about everything and told them that at the onset.
I hate that place so much. Not only that, they kept trying to get me to get mercury fillings which have the exact same kind of metals.
So I decided to try another out of network dentist. There happens to be one right across the street from me and it the office seemed nice and high tech, clean, and they don't do mercury dentistry. I thought it was a perfect match. Problem is they don't take GHI and GHI covers such a small part of the bill. I don't understand how this works. I had a dentist check up that cost $75 and GHI will only cover $19 despite my supposed $2300/year allowance. Here you can see their 2009 health benefits breakdown
No wonder the in network dentists are so shitty. They are basically doing an examination for $19.
To me it seems its not worth having dental insurance. Whatever someone (I or the state) has paid over the last 5 years must be more than I am getting out of it. I am going to see if I can cancel it and just buy private insurance or just pay out of pocket. I mean in the long run, I think they are winning.
According to this 2001 article
(I know out of date but it was all I could find) the state is paying for the benefits and really they only pay the in network dentists the amount they reimburse me, meaning they work for nothing, which to me translates to shitty dentists.The reason for the disparity in access to par dentists is clear: the State refuses to pay more for employee dental benefits and as a result, the fee schedule is so low that par dentists leave the plan when they no longer have to compete for patients. You must remind our members that New York State pays the entire premium for dental benefits. Despite widespread belief to the contrary, PEF members do not contribute to the premium and union dues do not pay for dental benefits either. It is the State's own decision to hold down its costs that prevents the fee schedule from being more realistic and making the dental plan a program acceptable to more dentists.
I would rather get involved in a group plan that we all contribute to but has better coverage.
I have left the network twice and each time the other dentists are way better and can't believe any other dentist would accept GHI. Its just now I have $2000 worth of work scheduled, $1200 of which is fixing the fuckup (broken crown, massive gap between teeth, chipped tooth) from advantage dentistry, argh! I almost want to sue them but its not worth the lawyer for the amount of money.
vincent - 06/19/11 15:47
This is why say Government Run "Obamacare" Can't be any worse than what we have now. Personally I've lost all faith in Dr's and I'm pretty much look at everyone with skeptical vision. You pretty much have to be your own Doctor, reserach everything 10 times before you get talked into anything by anyone.
One can counter that "They went to school and received all this training" blah blah blah. Well I went to college and seen how anyone can get through by using their sex appeal or friends. So if I encounter an attractive young person in the medical field doing something other than a routine cleaning of my teeth, I run. Give me an old person over 50, seriously. At least you know that if they are still around they 1. Love their job and 2. Have enough repeat business to have kept them going.
This is why say Government Run "Obamacare" Can't be any worse than what we have now. Personally I've lost all faith in Dr's and I'm pretty much look at everyone with skeptical vision. You pretty much have to be your own Doctor, reserach everything 10 times before you get talked into anything by anyone.
One can counter that "They went to school and received all this training" blah blah blah. Well I went to college and seen how anyone can get through by using their sex appeal or friends. So if I encounter an attractive young person in the medical field doing something other than a routine cleaning of my teeth, I run. Give me an old person over 50, seriously. At least you know that if they are still around they 1. Love their job and 2. Have enough repeat business to have kept them going.
paul - 06/19/11 12:37
Oh man this one was so bad. When he hit the other tooth I was so angry. The chip of tooth went n the back of my mouth.
Oh man this one was so bad. When he hit the other tooth I was so angry. The chip of tooth went n the back of my mouth.
leetee - 06/19/11 12:11
I thought we had the same insurance, seeing as we both work under the umbrella of NY State. My insurance is through the CSEA union.
At Advantage Dentistry, i am half way through the second of 3 needed crowns. So far, i haven't had the same issues you have had. Then again, i have more metal and fillings in my mouth than tooth, so it's all the same old same old to me.
Or, perhaps it is the nitrous....
I thought we had the same insurance, seeing as we both work under the umbrella of NY State. My insurance is through the CSEA union.
At Advantage Dentistry, i am half way through the second of 3 needed crowns. So far, i haven't had the same issues you have had. Then again, i have more metal and fillings in my mouth than tooth, so it's all the same old same old to me.
Or, perhaps it is the nitrous....
metalpeter - 06/19/11 10:42
Here is my theory ..... For some reason in this country Dentists aren't considered Doctors... If they where considered a sub set like ears, nose and throat or some kind of specialist I think things might be better. I admit I should go to them but that is another story.. Where I work and I think most places the dental plan is a different plan then the health plan and most places have that same peak amount of money a year thing cause kids and surgery can get pretty costly..... Now if dental was covered by and handled like a medical plan I think it would work much better... I think the reason most places don't do it though is also the money factor... I would assume that most people don't get sick to the point of it costing thousands of $s but dental work is up there in price....
I say go to a good place and just pay the Difference... It would be nice if you could find someplace that takes all the different insurances yes people with other ones they would get more then the $19 dollars or what ever.... But what I'm guessing happened to you is that the places you went to only took the GHI???
Here is my theory ..... For some reason in this country Dentists aren't considered Doctors... If they where considered a sub set like ears, nose and throat or some kind of specialist I think things might be better. I admit I should go to them but that is another story.. Where I work and I think most places the dental plan is a different plan then the health plan and most places have that same peak amount of money a year thing cause kids and surgery can get pretty costly..... Now if dental was covered by and handled like a medical plan I think it would work much better... I think the reason most places don't do it though is also the money factor... I would assume that most people don't get sick to the point of it costing thousands of $s but dental work is up there in price....
I say go to a good place and just pay the Difference... It would be nice if you could find someplace that takes all the different insurances yes people with other ones they would get more then the $19 dollars or what ever.... But what I'm guessing happened to you is that the places you went to only took the GHI???
paul - 06/18/11 15:37
I don't understand why NYS state even pays for this. They should cut this crap benefit, and we should instead bargain as a unit for dental insurance we contribute to but that is much better. I bet the one making out on this is GHI. I wonder how much NYS pays per employee.
I don't understand why NYS state even pays for this. They should cut this crap benefit, and we should instead bargain as a unit for dental insurance we contribute to but that is much better. I bet the one making out on this is GHI. I wonder how much NYS pays per employee.
paul - 06/18/11 15:33
Apparently, I am not the only one that feels this way, / At healthinsuranceproviders.com :::link::: they got such a horrible rating, a 1 out of 5 stars overall.
Apparently, I am not the only one that feels this way, / At healthinsuranceproviders.com :::link::: they got such a horrible rating, a 1 out of 5 stars overall.
06/18/2011 14:04 #54523
Bath n ShineCategory: pets
06/18/2011 01:07 #54519
Before and after in the gardenCategory: garden
There was so much crap to clear out.
before
after
The rabbit and (e:tinypliny) stopped by along the way.
before
after
The rabbit and (e:tinypliny) stopped by along the way.
tinypliny - 07/01/11 23:26
Who knows what all he is digging up when you are not around. You should let Basra loose as a sort of watch"dog".
Who knows what all he is digging up when you are not around. You should let Basra loose as a sort of watch"dog".
tinypliny - 07/01/11 23:24
I stopped by earlier today on the way back from work. Wanted to check out your bike but you were probably out biking. And OH MY, your garden is GROWING and FLOWERING by leaps and bounds. And you know what, that rabbit was THERE chewing away on all your herb. I swear it had BIG mouthful of something from your new vegetable patch! It didn't even move as I came closer! Could be that I am not that intimidating but I think it's more because he just was so intent on destroying and digging up your patch. You have do something or risk losing all veggies.
I stopped by earlier today on the way back from work. Wanted to check out your bike but you were probably out biking. And OH MY, your garden is GROWING and FLOWERING by leaps and bounds. And you know what, that rabbit was THERE chewing away on all your herb. I swear it had BIG mouthful of something from your new vegetable patch! It didn't even move as I came closer! Could be that I am not that intimidating but I think it's more because he just was so intent on destroying and digging up your patch. You have do something or risk losing all veggies.
tinypliny - 06/18/11 12:53
Some rabbits around the city are rather sluggish. They probably are sick from eating leftover plastic or something. Basra could totally get them - bionic appendages or not.
Some rabbits around the city are rather sluggish. They probably are sick from eating leftover plastic or something. Basra could totally get them - bionic appendages or not.
metalpeter - 06/18/11 12:49
If the tortoise you could have redone the old kids book but for some reason I think as quick as the rabbit is it may have wound up somehow being the food in this case?
If the tortoise you could have redone the old kids book but for some reason I think as quick as the rabbit is it may have wound up somehow being the food in this case?
tinypliny - 06/18/11 11:49
Thanks very much. We enjoyed our respective visits, though I am slightly jealous that the rabbit got a lot more herbs out of your garden than I managed to smuggle out.
Thanks very much. We enjoyed our respective visits, though I am slightly jealous that the rabbit got a lot more herbs out of your garden than I managed to smuggle out.
libertad - 06/18/11 07:59
Awe! Bunny! I always talk to them and they seem to like it.
Awe! Bunny! I always talk to them and they seem to like it.
06/18/2011 00:58 #54518
Voyage 3 Weekend Music FestivalCategory: music
I cannot wait till tomorrow night. A camping, dancing adventure awaits.
metalpeter - 06/18/11 12:47
Have fun there is a lot of stuff going on this weekend something in Black Rock, That River fest thing, Seinfeld was last night someplace else Rich Vos, There is a cool thing at Budweys but I'm only going to TNA tonight woke up and the body felt tired.... Besides don't want to kill my camera Batteries sometimes making it through one event is tough enough (li-ons not AA's so it isn't like a can bring 12 of them they don't all ways charge right it seems not sure sometimes they go down quick )... My point is enjoy...
Have fun there is a lot of stuff going on this weekend something in Black Rock, That River fest thing, Seinfeld was last night someplace else Rich Vos, There is a cool thing at Budweys but I'm only going to TNA tonight woke up and the body felt tired.... Besides don't want to kill my camera Batteries sometimes making it through one event is tough enough (li-ons not AA's so it isn't like a can bring 12 of them they don't all ways charge right it seems not sure sometimes they go down quick )... My point is enjoy...
tinypliny - 06/18/11 11:50
Someday.. someday!
Someday.. someday!
I love the fire Picture.....