I just received a letter from my insurance carrier (whom I won't name, but their initials are MetLife) detailing the recent dental work I had done. It included this interesting line:
Local anasthesia is not a covered expense.
It wasn't a big deal, since in the big scheme of things it wasn't a huge expense. But it made me think, just how tough do they expect you to be, that anasthesia during a root canal is considered a luxury item?
I feel like such a little prince all of a sudden.
I used to work for MetLife HMO and the anesthesia is more than likely considered a medical expense. Semantics, but the dentist's office should submit it to your medical insurance and see if they'll pay for it.
ReplyDeleteIt's definitely worth a shot.
a SHOT? Oh, Debby! :)
ReplyDeleteMy dental insurance doesn't cover general anesthetics ever. Even if they're deemed neccesary by the dentist. Such a strange system. "Yes, we will remove those troublesome wisdom teeth for you, that's clearly a medical necessity, but dulling the pain of the proceedure? suck it up, you wussy, pain is all in your imagination..."
ReplyDeleteI haven't yet tried to see if I can get medical insurance to reimburse me.
Don't be such a wuss.
ReplyDeleteSincerely,
Dustin Hoffman
I feel like you have fallen off your writing of the blog since getting the diabetes website position. Please post more frequent and if not that more interesting things than insurance issues.
ReplyDelete-SM
Dear SM,
ReplyDeleteI did have this whole entry planned about how you were invited to blow me. I'll seee what I can do about that.
Lovingly,
The Rob
Just to point out that I am not that SM.
ReplyDeleteI find your insurance posts very exciting.
Ummmph - HELLO -
ReplyDeleteRob, if you're going to be writing more frequently and more exciting posts - could you also come over and change my oil?
(In my car - we could work a deal on the BJ)
I Love You Just the Way you Are.
I will confess to pouting when there isn't a new post when I want one - what's up with you being a human and having your own life and all?
Since you're moderating, and people are getting the option to remain anonymous, can I assume you're letting the odd one in under the wire so you can flame them or shame them? In which case, SM would have to stand for the very obvious, eh?
ReplyDeleteI don't moderate nearly as often as you might think. When I get a bunch of posts in the space of an hour that all say roughly the same thing, I assume that something's been posted somewhere and I am getting comments someone's sycophantic readers. Even then, I usually let at least one of them stay to represent the rest.
ReplyDeleteAs for the obvious meaning of SM, I must be missing something. I'm pretty, not smart.
Okay, not so pretty, either.
I omitted the &, or it'd have been more obvious.
ReplyDeleteSorry, I think I may have lowered the tone of this comments section....
I'm not that SM, either. The rest of us SM's need to duct tape the petulent entry-critiquing SM commenter. I think we'll all feel a little better once that's done.
ReplyDelete- Shannon Moore
But really, that's so boring, thus
- Geek Gal
Pain is just weakness leaving the body.
ReplyDeleteThis entry makes me want to rewatch Marathon Man! :)
ReplyDeleteIs it safe?
ReplyDeletedental insurance is such a joke. i cannot *imagine* having a root canal without anesthesia. i've had several with, and have lovingly thanked those little vials each time.
ReplyDeleteThat whole insurance thing is just too freakin' bizarre man.
ReplyDeleteAnd what's up with "your people" (yes, you DON'T have to claim them) who think you owe them some kind of meaty post.
Frankly, I just like to hear about your day,...good/bad/ugly...whatever!
3 cheers for robbie, hip hip hooray! (ok, that was dumb....)
I think your insurance agent should be forced to watch Marathon Man a few times.
ReplyDeleteLocal anesthesia might not be covered, but you should look into whether bourbon is covered. Cheaper than the novocaine, so the insurance company is bound to approve, and I believe it has the benefit of historical accuracy. PLUS it's less of a "local" anesthetic and more of a "fuck, yeah!" anesthetic.
ReplyDeleteHey Rob, have you read a book (novel) called "Daniel Isn't Talking?" by Marti Leimbach. It's about a woman and her son with autism.
ReplyDeleteHuh, that looks very interesting, I'm reading about it on Amazon now. Thanks for the heads up!
ReplyDeleteGuess the underwriters at RhymesWithMetLife read Fraudulent Frey's "A Million Little Pieces."
ReplyDeleteI'm planning to request Dr. Jack Daniel as my anesthesiologist for my upcoming Big Nasty Surgery. And the aftermath.
ReplyDeleteI'm no puss like Rob. Hee.
Kisses from near the Distillery.
I had a titanium post drilled into my jawbone in October for an implant crown, and MetLife declined my anesthesia as well, stating that "patient apprehension" didn't make something medically necessary. Right ... because the words "electric drill" and "jawbone" should ever be used in the same sentence without anesthesia.
ReplyDelete